No time was bitcoin a get rich quick asset, you must buy and hodli for you to be profitable in the long run which is the reason why bitcoin is a long term asset. As long as bitcoin is still traded in the market, there is no time that is late to start your bitcoin investment. I wouldn't advice newbies to go into trading because it's very risk and the market is filled with uncertainties.
You have said it all, that's the real truth about it because Bitcoin is not a get-rich-quick. Of course, we need nothing but a long-term process so that we will be able to come out on the profitable side. Yes, as long as the market is moving forward, there's no "late" in Bitcoin investment. You only need to be bold about your investment plan, because as the saying goes, "nothing good comes easy." nothing more than that at all.