First of all, Bitcoin is going to make it to the mainstream because of the HUMAN FACTOR - Incentive.
.......
Consider who these early adopters are. These speculators include some of the brightest technical and creative minds in the world today, all working and helping each other to solve the same problems
1.
All the best minds are NOT into the bitcoin early list. some best minds are into the early list, BUT
not all 2. The bitcoin early list is a few hundreds
3. There are lot more aspiring , bright , hungry minds "out there" who are NOT early in the bitcoin train
So yes, you are going to have the best, brightest, and richest working towards a common goal.
there will be 10 times more # of brights working to make the next coin work...
within 4+ years of start and 1 year of frenzy there are competitors out there
who know what will happen in 4 more ?
so .... how do you say common goal ? I see competing goals !!
MY 2 Cents worth