The name of the game in scaling operations to meaningfully compete. Is ultimately money. Of which the Financial Firms have essentially a bottomless supply.

You can have the best product in the world. But if you can’t match them in dollars. You’re stuck perpetually playing catchup. That and Corporate Espionage likely means they’ll be producing a similar ‘Good Enough’ product for cheaper in short order. Undercutting your market. As people are forced to pick between an expensive amazing option. Or the cheaper ‘Good Enough’ option that’ll do 99% of what the average person needs it to do.