While I agree with this advice generally, there are exceptions to the rule. I tried to talk my kid into staying in the comfort zone of geometry first year (which he took online over the summer), but he pushed back against the school and me, and forced his way into the higher class. Best decision he has made in bs. For him. It could have been disastrous. Hard to know at the beginning, and it is personality-dependent how the kid will react to bs and its challenges at the beginning of first year. I am glad the school gave him the shot even against their advice. Worst case was he didn’t do well and dropped back down.
I think the key is to figure out are you taking pre-calc because you love it or purely for the hypothetical admissions boost. If the latter, don’t do it.