Using escrow is not a simple "no brainer" solution. Bitcoin is decentralised currency, yet John processes significant ammount of deals on this forum and takes a fee for it (about 2% I guess). How it is much different from "centrall regulator we all trust" paradigm?

Lack of trust among peers can be a major problem in the future. I want to become a trusted member of bitcoin community, yet if everybody uses escrow I can not "earn" that trust.

A healthy alternative to using escrow (in my humble opinion) is to arrange deals in public and use digital signatures just like bitcoin transactions work. WoT on #bitcoin-otc are not getting the attention they deserve.


PS:
Previously I was PMed by Diamondstarfall with an offer to buy  5 shares. I asked him to make a public statement so I can buy one share. He made a new topic 4.2 BTC price, but by the time I woke up all shares were sold.