It's a very valid argument to say that all people just talk about their gains and never about losses and they bullshit about the gains. So I don't believe people when they say that. Sure you might have been among those who who bough low and sold high, but my point is that, that is not a a real user case. It's no real utility to simply have virtual object that fluctuates in value. The Proof-of-Work algorithm just validates the transactions in peer-to-peer network, without the need of a 3rd party middle man as validator. This is indeed a great innovation, but it's just a system.
I'm completely open about my investments and bought at many different levels in 2016 and 2017, most of it below 3000 dollars but some at 5 and 6 as well. I still have these coins so no selling for profit on my part. Holding something that makes me feel safe while being profitable is more than enough for me. I'm not going to chase profit around trading for a few dollars of profit every day. It's a waste of time.
You think those who bought early are not to be believed because those are the lucky few. Did I get it right? Bitcoin remained below 6000 dollars for more than 8 years. That's enough time to be among the lucky few. You underestimate hiw many people on this forum still hold Bitcoins bought for less tha 1000 USD. I can tell you it's a lot.
PayPal also only works as a middleman. A transaction validator. It does something a 1 person acting as escrow could do and its shares are worth 150 EUR a piece. Does it create any value?
The system itself does not create any value. It's just a tool.
A computer program or a domain also don't create value but have value.