This is the "Wait Calculation" and it's fiendish because there exists only some small, finite window in which it is indeed better to start before the tech is "better" in order to "win" (i.e. get "there" first, wherever "there" is in your scenario).

Here's a nice article about it: https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/the-lazy-tyranny-of-the-wai...