Do most bitcoin users actually think that bitcoin is going to 'replace other currency, ATMs on every street corner', etc. at some point in the future? Is such a future actually necessary for bitcoin's continued success or maintainance?
I personally think that such a view is not realistic, but I like bitcoin because I believe in the concept, so I will continue to use bitcoin on some occasions. Is the view I mentioned the general consensus of users that use bitcoin, or just the opinion on a few of what COULD happen? Just want to know people's thoughts..
While I don't think that Bitcoin is ever going to exclusively exist as money, and that some form of fiat currency will continue to exist pretty much everywhere on Earth; I do think that Bitcoin (or it's successor) has the potential to become the world's next global reserve currency. I can't envision a future wherein international trade is likely to return to any kind of gold standard; too many problems with letters-of-credit and such that Bitcoin solves natively. In two generations, banknotes with the promise of "backing" by Bitcoin reserves will be common enough as well. The age of paper fiat currencies is fading away, but it will take many generations before fiat is no longer dominate.