Look at what it came with though, as much as it helped him get to where he got with My, My, My and all that. Like I said maybe he could have gotten father ahead if he focused more Solo. New Edition opened doors for him for sure, no doubt, but they also closed doors as well with their arguing and fighting and drug use. He is also left in a spot where he is still underrated.
I guess everything happens how it is supposed to though but if he focused more Solo and would have popped, he would have had a better solo career for sure imo. Their is no guarantee here but I'm saying hypothetically had he had the right producers and tracks he would have took off solo wise and be up there higher than he is right now.