People must understand that Bitcoin isn't anymore the plaything that it was years ago. Every exchange will face difficulties if they don't properly register their activities - especially when it comes to allowing people to exchange/trade crypto versus USD. If an exchange isn't willing to go through whatever is needed to be allowed to run a platform that involves USD, it will experience what BTC-E has gone through, what Bitfinex is, or will go through, Poloniex, etc. BTC-E, however, is reported to be involved in the MtGox theft back in the days. I don't like the government shutting exchanges down, but in case of BTC-E, if they are really one of the master mind behind the MtGox theft, may all involved entities burn in hell.
You're 100% right.. as an aspiring crypto lawyer, I have been reading findings from the SEC, UK and EU regulatory authorities which suggest that the starting point towards regulating cryptocurrencies is to monitor all the possible exchanging avenues from crypto to fiat. Governments have entire departments ready to implement new directives and strict laws could be in place very soon announcing that trading cryptos over a certain amount per year (as an unlicensed individual) is a crime (with mandatory minimums) thus rendering services like localbitcoins illegal. Meanwhile, they'll set strict AML, KYC and fiduciary obligations on the established and new exchanges making it 'safer' for the people and a lot more beurocratic (going against the very principle of cryptocurrencies).