I'm finding myself in a very similar scenario. Incidently, the same people turned off by the $190/BTC exchange were the ones telling me that this was an "illegal nerd currency", all now just writhing to get their hands on them - provided they don't pay "alot" 

I've talked my roommate into looking into the system - enticed by the concept of cheap, nearly-instantaneous transfers of funds after he had waited a few days to pay for Bioshock. Suddenly can't stop mining, and now gawking at the exchange rate. Beautiful stuff.