Cynicism because "we" like to believe we understand technology and stocks better than the average person. But plenty of HN people both made and lost a lot of money in crypto.

Yes, to understand bitcoin well enough to confidently ride the volatility at this early stage in its growth, not only does it help to be technically minded, but you also need an understanding of what money really is and how fiat money really works.

People with that combination are few and far between. But there's plenty of people on HN who confidently think they know.