One of the very big hopes for Bitcoin was the notion of enabling 'micropayments'. Today, one can't practically pay 50 cents with Visa because there is a 30 cent swipe fee and a percent fee on top.
However, now with the stalwarts of 1MB blocksize limits, it looks like we are going to have to start setting our miners fees to (remarkably enough): 30 cents.
Does this spell an end to micropayments?
Only time will tell.
I believe micro-payments are what will really push Bitcoin/bitcoin to mass adoption one day.
Any amount, around the world, any time, without trusted parties. That is special.
But as I have said, only time will tell.