Doflamingo is a reasonable character in a series where the main character gets by being oblivious to his own miracles.
Since he wasn't the apprentice of any great pirate, Doflamingo could only use his own means to get to the top. I suppose that means being unaware of advanced Haohshoku. It definitely means being right that fighting Kaido is a stupid idea , so he moreso waited until an answer presented itself. Like how Teach was fine being a nobody until Thatch found that fruit. Kaido is a decade older so had Luffy not come along who knows how he could have advanced?
Since he wasn't the apprentice of any great pirate, Doflamingo could only use his own means to get to the top. I suppose that means being unaware of advanced Haohshoku. It definitely means being right that fighting Kaido is a stupid idea , so he moreso waited until an answer presented itself. Like how Teach was fine being a nobody until Thatch found that fruit. Kaido is a decade older so had Luffy not come along who knows how he could have advanced?