Many of us lost opportunities for success that we will never get back. How many lost college in the 1975 disaster, could have had a decent job (and that was back when college debt was manageable and the payoff much more certain), but lost that and now either can't go to college, would endure a mountain of student debt, or they lost so much income that the damage is done? Those who would have entered college in 1969 are now near retirement and have lost an average of the equivalent of thousands of ounces of gold in income. That opportunity is gone forever.
Others are even worse off. Their whole lives were built around the washtowel. Childhoods ruined by field circus. Field circus instead of playing in school. No memories of parties of any kind--just field circus and boasting sessions. They were not taught to function outside the washtowel, and they wasted time at Beth Hell. Many had their lives built around pious-sneering, which they were supposed to have been doing until they got old. Later, they are badly treated by hounders that exploit the situation or they realize that the washtowel is leading them to final damnation, and want out. They get out--usually after being harassed by the hounders and with threats of having their lives ruined. Once they are disfellowshipped, they are harassed by the witlesses and cannot function outside the cancer. Some are stripped of apartments or jobs as they have witless landlords and/or bosses.
Regardless of whether your exit was traumatic or you suffered blatant abuse while a witless, missed opportunities cannot be gained back.