When I first entered into the crypto space, I used to look down on myself, I mean anytime I look at most of my friends and agemate already making it in the space and doing well for themselves.
But over time I realized something very important which is Being early doesn't matter if you are not ready.
There are actually people who invested in one coin or the other in the past and still lost lost everything because they lacked the understanding of what they where investing in. There where even some of my friends who where not crypto traders but got scammed because they where advised to invest in coins they had no knowledge about...So honestly, I would have found myself in a similar situation if I had joined earlier with the same mindset I had when I first started.
I am sorry to be the bringer of bad news on this topic, you are wrong indeed because people that are into crypto today as beginners make the same mistakes that those that were here in 2017.
Been early does have its advantage in terms of opportunity, now things are harder and Bitcoin is a perfect example, you talked about been ready? Even if you are ready it won't stop you from losing or making mistakes.
Someone who is a expert in this crypto space lost miliions last week, he is also a YouTuber, well known by many, he was a victim of a stupid affiliates scam, crypto isn't all about knowledge, mistakes are there to be make and that's how you learn.
Have all the knowledge you deserve, you will only limit the mistakes a gullible person can make, but it is impossible not to mess up one day, screenshot this, it's going to happen.
My advice is be more careful, many things are not what they seem online, with or without your knowledge.