Ok - I won't bother doing any of this anymore.  Looks like I won't be playing in the Bitcoin world at all then.

Pfft.....   

How the hell does Bitcoin expect to grow if it can't/won't be attractive to those of us who support the 'cause' but can't compete with the techno experts?

Long term viability to the average member of the masses is critical to Bitcoin's - or any alternative currency's - success.