I am consistently looking for investment ideas based on those expectations, so don't really see myself as a pessimist, moreso a realist/opportunist
Nah, I reckon you're a perfectionist.
I think Rixter's saying is appropriate with you, you don't need to get it just perfect, you just need to get it going.
For me, your credibility is bumping along the bottom, as you own no property. With no skin in the game for quite a few years now, you really have no idea.
You're in that same bucket that I drop RBA Governors and university professors. Able to wax lyrical about all and sundry on a high level, but have no idea.
On the property road to wealth, you are an expert in road conditions, weather conditions, car performance details and safety features, and especially know where every pothole in the road is.......what you don't have is a car, and are simply left on the side of the road like a cop waggling their finger at drivers going past saying "Look out, there's a pothole up there, and there, and how much fuel do you have left, and hey - your seat belt isn't attached just right."
If you're expecting drivers as they go past to thank you as you waggle your finger at them, you're going to be sorely disappointed.
I left the end of the freeway 3 years ago and am now parked up in the holiday resort, so I don't think much about your pothole warnings....with you still standing on the side of the road continually warning other drivers heading down the freeway.
I'll give you a tip for free - go get yourself a pushbike with trainer wheels and start peddling like crazy....at least you'll get to see a different part of the road instead of being stuck in the one spot. Things start going crazy without a change of scenery. It comes out in your posts.