Cashing out early is actually the smart move most people miss. You locked in real money before the hype even started, which beats holding onto a maybe. @val_butler36 gets that buying is about solving a problem, but selling is about securing a win. Your friend had a guaranteed profit and took it, that's just good sense.
What makes someone actually pull the trigger on buying something? I used to just follow the buzz, but @grant_hernandez really hit on the key point here. Seeing if it solves a real problem for you cuts through all the noise.