Having played DeFi for two years, I finally understand where retail investors truly lose — it's not low returns, but that returns are fundamentally unpredictable.

Floating interest rates are 8% today, 2% tomorrow, and your funds sit there, not knowing whether you're making money or just waiting to die.
What's even more ironic is that you check in daily, complete tasks, and switch operations, but the rewards you get are the same as someone who did nothing.
Effort and reward are completely decoupled, and that's the most damaging part.