I am new to BTC and have done a little research and I am ready to buy some. 
Trouble is that there are serious hoops to jump through for a UK investor.
So far I have been unale to find a way to fund my MtGox account since the information supplied is not compatible with the UK bank transfer system (ie, there is no Sort Code for MTGox and their account number is incompatible with our system).
So the flaw in my opinion is that buying BTC is such a pain in the posterior - this makes it only compatible with the investor who is prepared to perform financial acrobatics to fund his account.
The point of BTC is supposed to be an easy transaction currency - UK users and many more around the world are finding it too difficult to get involved and BTC will simply become an investment and not a currency for real transactions.
Have I missed the point ?
Trouble is that there are serious hoops to jump through for a UK investor.
So far I have been unale to find a way to fund my MtGox account since the information supplied is not compatible with the UK bank transfer system (ie, there is no Sort Code for MTGox and their account number is incompatible with our system).
So the flaw in my opinion is that buying BTC is such a pain in the posterior - this makes it only compatible with the investor who is prepared to perform financial acrobatics to fund his account.
The point of BTC is supposed to be an easy transaction currency - UK users and many more around the world are finding it too difficult to get involved and BTC will simply become an investment and not a currency for real transactions.
Have I missed the point ?
Yes, you've missed the point. How easy is it for you to buy US $ in the UK? It is an easy transaction currency once you have some. Try starting an online business of some sort, and accept bitcoins. That's what is needed more than a better ways to trade government fiat for bitcoins.