Depends on the crossbow Chinese repeating crossbows are 2000 years old
Yes, but that's not what we're talking about, and those were underpowered and inaccurate.
Irl crossbows were underpowered and inaccurate. Just ask the French
It kind if is what we are talking about. You can't make sweeping generalizations about an entire class of weapons.
There are rapid fire crossbows irl