Here's a flaw in the "I'm a young, curious elf" out in the world of wacky fast-paced humans, concept:
You are the parents of such elf (the only kid you have had in the last 500 years btw), when do you allow them to leave the nest? When they are just old enough to handle a sword, or after they have significant ability (with elves this will usually be both physical & magical ability) and the greatest chance of survival?
We humans - with the benefit of not living in a world with dragons, bugbears, orcs, bulette, proof of evil gods, etc... - still wait until they are about 2-decades old (around 2/7th of their lifespan). Even hasty humanity is conservative on a world like Greyhawk/Faerun/Kulthea.
When an individual is ready to meet the great-big world is not only determined by genetics, but by the society they live in, elves may not believe that their children are ready until they are the equivalent of 5th or level higher - heck, maybe not unitl 10th level or so (using game terms). This does double duty; gives the individual elf the greatest chance of survival, and gives the impression to all the other beings out there that elves are, by nature, a race too powerful to mess with. If all the elves that came to your town could out swordsman your fighter and/or out magic your mage, than you would be reluctant to attack them too. (I know I would.)