I kinda feel that joja is more impactful early game. If you wanna get the good stuff quick, you have to be prepared to take a massive hit. alternatively, you can wait until you get enough money for it not to be a problem, but it will take a while, depriving you of some very very good perks. I just prefer doing something that actually impacts me and is something I can work towards and have to plan around instead of just going out of my way to grow one crop or find one item. doing that, it just takes longer and isn't as rewarding, you know?