I can see once I have passed through a stage only when I look back. Never have I had the awareness when I was experiencing that stage to know that's what was happening.
I think this is key. Maybe this is a more accurate way to describe the action. I am not recommending mind reading or fortune telling.
It is no different looking at the stages that your MLC'er have accomplished. Much easier to look backwards and ID that than to look forward. Can you make a mistake, Absolutely.
To know what will happen is not possible since I agree that none of us have ever done this before.
But to not learn anything from history may mean that you will repeat what you should have already learned.