this is very reductive and really hyperbolic. Also hauptschule does not exist in most states anymore. I also know enough people who did perfectly fine via Rea

this is very reductive and really hyperbolic. Also hauptschule does not exist in most states anymore. I also know enough people who did perfectly fine via Realschule to academics. Of course it's a decision with pretty much a single point of failure which is suboptimal, but don't act like it's predetermining your whole carrer.