I have finally achieved my goal with the French language. My score now is 477 (was 437), without French it would be as low as 426. It took me a bit less than two years from a zero start. So yes, it's possible to conquer this system even if your age is that of a dinosaur.
I feel like dinosaur in this forum too, been here from the start of 2017, have seen a lot. Got my ITA in "the funny days", accidentally lost it, and tried to regain it ever since.
I belong to a group of so-called realists in this forum. The realist position is well defined, for example, by
@vensak in her countless posts, I can only stand by it. My two cents: do not hope that points will ever drop (even if it might happen) and do all that you can to earn points, learn other languages. This is useful not just for getting ITA, ahead lies even more serious competition once you are in Canada.
Life's good at upper 400 !!! It was hard to even dream about it, but here it is. Always sunny, warm and plenty of martinis

I hope and wish that all of you could experience this feeling of joy.