A direction becomes valuable after effort begins accumulating behind it.

A direction has almost no value at the moment you pick it. Its worth accumulates as effort piles up behind it, as skills, relationships, and reputation start compounding along that line. This is why switching constantly leaves you with nothing, even when each individual switch was defensible.

Rather than asking which path is best in the abstract, ask which one you are willing to stay on long enough for the compounding to start. Then protect it from casual revision. Most of the value comes from the years, not the choice.