It sounds like you have been fortunate and found what is right for you. This may not be true for others and sometimes people must learn things for themselves an

It sounds like you have been fortunate and found what is right for you. This may not be true for others and sometimes people must learn things for themselves and walk their own paths. For others, if you are able to, at least try for YC et al as there is much to be learnt from even the application/interview process. All the unsuccessful people I have met said it was better to have tried and failed than not tried at all and all came away better from the experience. Lastly, it seems YC is less a lottery (success soley based on pure random chance) and more like a stable where promising prospects are picked, trained, and groomed (via exposure to competitive environment and advice, insight, and mentoring from experts and alumni alike) before being sent out to race. Hence your chances of success is much greater with YC and if your idea is poor or has a high probability of failure (i.e. not making money/users) then at least you get a considered insight to this earlier rather than later. Either way, you benefit and the reasons to do it outweigh those not to.