It's good that you share mistakes, maeby someone will learn. With social trading and pamms the problem is with spreads too, you don't have low costs so it's difficultly to earn. Second problem is statistic that brokers show us not all or you see in Pamm stats balance profit, they don't want you watch draw downs and equity. I think copy other in trading is not so bad but you need to know few things for what watch to choose trader and low costs very important. Look at draw down, average trade length, profit, loose in pips not in money. And always you can't be sure so don't give all money to one trader. If you invest for example 10k$ and your trader promise not loose more than 20% than deposit only 20%. It will be much safe for you. If you trade as trader than same deposit only risk money not all. You have lewarage so you don't need to deposit all and use accounts with negative balance protection.