What is the saying for when "early adaptors (first timers) always takes the hit" which is opposite of "early bird catches the worm"
While we say "early bird catches the worm" which means whoever arrives first has the best chance of success; some opportunities are only available to the first competitors.
On the opposite end, what is the saying for when "first timers always takes the first hit". Here what i mean is when say for instance government brings in a new policy for the first time of a new format of passport instead of the conventional. The ones who are about to have their renewal will be hit the hardiest as their will be face the immediate consequence of those changes such as during their airport immigration, visa issues for visit to a new country.
I think the closest idiom would be 'Jumped the Gun'.
To start something before it is permissible, appropriate, or advisable. The phrase alludes to starting to run in a foot race before the starting gun goes off.
Example: David jumped the gun getting his passport renewed. It is a new format rather than the conventional one. He's bound to face problems at immigaration when he lands in Timbuktu!
Audi killing the electric R8 e-tron is no surprise - but its time will come. Audi jumped the gun on the electric sports car, but once the EV market matures it will get another chance.
I don't believe there is an idiom which suits perfectly as an opposite to "the early bird catches the worm."
However, there are some idioms which may be suitable, depending on the context.
Those first in may inadvertently run interference for those who follow, so they have less trouble:
run interference: to deal with problems for someone as they happen
Being first at something may also mean taking the full brunt of opening Pandora's box or opening a can of worms, though people who follow may also take the consequences.
A popular retort to "The early bird gets the worm" is:
The second mouse gets the cheese.
A 1994 usenet post by Ernst Berg is apparently the earliest known use of the phrase.