In the March 4th video update Karl said he plans to hand over startcoin to the community. Not sure what that entails exactly but given the state of the community that essentially means throwing the coin under the proverbial bus.  Karl made it clear that StartCoin would be one of many payment options on V2. I happen to think that is a great idea because StartCoin price is/was too volatile as a stand alone payment method. So why have StartCoin at all? What unique purpose does it serve or is it just like most of the other 700 and counting alt-coins?

It makes a lot of sense to hand it over because really the platform does not need the coin! However, the platform very much needs a community. And if the community asserts a utility for the coin then, well, the platform needs the coin....