Alternatively I always viewed 'steep learning curve' as a time skill ratio that you must meet or exceed rather than a guarantee of how your skill will develop over time.
After all, 'steepness' in isolation is meaningless (depends on your axis scales), but a comparitive 'steeper than you can handle' is more meaningful to me
I still get stung, but now I just don't react because that's what they want, that's how they win