As an early adopter, I find that by the time the rest of the world catches up I've moved on. Now that the fringe tech or tool that I've been using and raving about for years has become mainstream, I am now onto the next fringe thing.
The challenge with that is that I often miss the opportunity for financial benefit. Because in the early days when I am one of the few testing out and figuring out how to use a new tool/tech, no one is interested and there is no market for it. Then when mainstream is ready for it, my attention has moved on.
RE: Which matters, Being Early or Being Perfect?