I think launching without a waitlist was the right call. A waitlist can create hype, but it also creates false signals. Signing up is easy. Actually using a product, hitting friction, and coming back is the real test. I’d rather have 50 active users than 5,000 emails. The feedback you get from real usage is worth more than any launch day numbers. You can always build anticipation later, but you can’t replace the lessons from watching people use what you built.