The topic title as "This photo says it all" is a very bad topic title that only makes readers confusing what you are writing about and wanting to discuss in this thread.
Topic title style guide.Just like snail in the photo, the process of Bitcoin's growth might be slow but it's very steady regardless of how volatile it is
So if you're thinking of going into Bitcoin with the thought of making quick cash then you must be joking cause you'll end up getting disappointed, the best you can do is buy and hold for the future then watch is grow gradually for years, it's a very good investment opportunity with a slow but steady process.
Bitcoin market cycle is about four years by a block subsidy design for every 210,000 blocks that last about 4 years with an average 10-minute block time. In each market cycle, there are boring months with sideway, other months with terrible falls especially with newbies, but when Bitcoin completes its bear market, finishes accumulation phase, it moves very speedy and makes new ATH with a parabolic growth curve within several months.
So slow or fast, it depends on period you are in, in different periods you will experience the market with different feelings.
https://charts.bitbo.io/yearly-candles/