I think it has been established that bitcoin value will go up with usage which we would porbably all agree is a good thing.
If illicit goods and services are traded with bitcoins that will presumably increase the amount of people using them, which should push up their value, right?
Obviously there is the ever present risk of governmental regulation which has the potential to shut things down completely.
What do you guys think, good or bad?
Bitcoins have gotten a significant amount of press over the past few weeks (months?) from sites like 'Silk Road'. For the time being I think that participation is the most important thing for the success of BTC. I don't think that BTC will ever be used solely as a black market currency, hence I think that the participation gains associated with Silk Road mostly benefit this community.
As to the anonymity issues associated with 'Silk Road'... I don't think that I personally will use 'Silk Road' for some time, but that shouldn't stop others entirely. I find this situation pretty analogous to the early days of torrents (using Napster, etc.). For the time being 'Silk Road' isn't perfectly secure, you're right. However, with enough participation the US government (as well as others) simply wont have the resources to track everyone down. I wouldn't go around buying loads of drugs if you hold a public office, have a government job, or even if you have priors. But, I don't think the US is going to be coming around knocking down doors for buying 1/8 of pot. At that point why wouldn't they just go to any college campus in America....