I am also talking about regulations imposed by governments (the only regulations banks impose are imposed on them) are not always costly, and I am saying this from experience. I advise a company that helps companies get regulated in many jurisdictions. Regulations don't HAVE to be costly nor do they HAVE to limit potential gains. The fact that some regulations do doesn't mean that it has to be this way.
So should there be regulations? Absolutely. Right now, it's too much like the wild west. But as I've said - smart ones. Not idiotic ones that do nothing to actually achieve something meaningful.
I get what you say, however in practical terms what I see around me is that most often than not regulations create socialist-like limitations to people's freedom in exchange of something which could be perhaps regarded as 'safety' but in reality is simply consolidation of the status quo.
I guess our different perceptions of regulations might also come from the countries we live in and we have visited; I have seen so many times the negative results of regulations that I much prefer to risk something by acting in an unregulated environment than having that 'security' around me.
Maybe this is also why I love EtherDelta ha!
Though it will lower the number of scams, that is not my main reasoning. Regulations do lower the number of scams but they do not eradicate.
The main reason I think regulation is good is because it limits the use of funds for criminal purposes.