I was one of those newbies who recently asked for some kind soul to sell me some bitcoins (which I paid via PayPal).

I think the risk cut both ways, and in all transactions (online or offline), you have to take some risk, and take measures to minimize the risk to an acceptable level.

For example, the seller asked for me to wait a couple of days before he will transfer the bitcoins to me (after PayPal payment). I took a risk because I see that the seller has been a member of this forum for awhile, and it will be unlikely he will risk his reputation here for a couple of hundred bucks (though I will soon know whether my judgement is true).

On the other hand, I am grateful to the seller for taking a chance with me, and I tried my best to put his doubts at risk.

Don't real life transactions work the same way?