To me one of the biggest downers for Bitcoin, one of the things that makes me pessimistic, is that so many in the libertarian / sound money crowd seem to dismiss it. If that lot can't 'get it', the greater public surely can't?
gold is backed by thousands of years of history.
Salt was backed by thousands of years of history ... until somebody invented the refrigerator.
good. then calculate the likelihood of something like that happening in your lifetime, and there is your risk for gold.
The rate of change in technology and society is increasing, its more likely than you think.