So. 2 things.
1. Level 1 adventurers are not ordinary people. In a world where the average stat for a person is a 10-11 me having 16 in probably one or two abilities makes me a pretty extraordinary dude.
Citation from the PHB:
A score of 10 or 11 is the normal human average, but adventurers and many monsters are a cut above average in most abilities. A score of 18 is the highest that a person usually reaches. Adventurers can have scores as high as 20, and monsters and divine beings can have scores as high as 30.
A 16/17 are "power levels" half of divine beings. So that whole shtick about that level 1 means = weak is just not having any merits.
2. Not every story needs to start in a low stakes environment.
