Startups Are Ditching Waitlists. Smart Move or Missed Opportunity?

Hello PHers :)

I’ve noticed a growing trend: more and more early-stage startups are skipping the classic "waitlist" launch and going straight to open access. Some argue it's more authentic and helps get traction faster. Others say waitlists build FOMO, gather valuable user data, and give time to polish the product.

Curious what the community thinks.

Did you use a waitlist when you launched?

What worked (or totally flopped)?

Would you do it again?

Also keen to hear if anyone found creative ways to replace the traditional waitlist and still build hype 👀