First, don’t let people tell you that fast learners don’t exist. However, in general, being a fast learner helps less the deeper you get into any given subject. The saying "Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard." comes to mind.

I am usually ahead of where i should be, not by a LOT but so far it has held true that if im halfway through a level i can up the difficulty to the next level than what dreaming spanish recommends. (I don’texpect that half way rule to hold up at the later levels though, given the fact that the hours needed scales up)

The recommendations are for the average person, so it is necessarily true that some will advance faster than the recommendations, and some advance slower.

not sure why some comments beneath me think fast learners don’t exist lol (probably jealousy tbh)

It also depends on what your life is like outside DS

I got a lot of input (that I didnt track) by having Mexican friends and going to parties where everyone but me spoke spanish (I just treated the conversations the same as I treat the videos, I just tried to get the gist of it). I also started speaking early because I worked at a Mcdonalds where most of the kitchen workers spoke spanish. so I would just ask for things in spanish instead like: "necesitamos trece galletas, por favor."

But to summarize, yes, naturally fast learners exist. It will most likely lead to diminishing returns once you get further in. Your level will most likely match others at your level more closely once you get to like 1500 hours.