The purpose of these exponential growth projections is to help those inexperienced with bitcoin network difficulty realize that what they should be focusing on is BTC return over the lifetime of the product.
Considering the risks associated with any pre-order it is time that manufacturers also consider the customers situation when pricing the $ value of the unit.
Avalon did it well on their first and second batches pricing wise vs number of units to be sold. Wish they would have been able to deliver them in volume.
Here is a link to something that I feel is my optimistic view as respects network difficulty.
http://btcinvest.net/en/bitcoin-mining-profit-calculator.php?diff=249506922&dcosts=31200&diff_mincrease=35&blpbtc=25&dhsmhs=2200000&diff_mincreasedecrease=3&btcusd=140&dpowcon=2400&btcusd_mincrease=3&pcost=0.13&calcweeks=25&dleadtime=0&action=calc#
Please understand that an exercise in awareness rarely is doing disservice to others.
I understand what you're saying, and I do think that Genesis block and the other companies have given people more tools on this than have ever been provided before. I just don't want people to think the future is that bleak...It is pretty bleak, don't get me wrong...just not THAT bleak.
I could not agree more
Speaking of investments
Oct. 9, 2013, 3:05 p.m. - **Debit cards have arrived as a new withdrawal option! (In Beta)
https://www.cavirtex.com/news
Oh and they have an IPO...
https://www.havelockinvestments.com/fund.php?symbol=VTX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvELpQ83ApA&feature=youtu.be
Edit: I think that this is a far more likely scenario as to network difficulty and bitcoin value projection.
BTCInvest link
So by July 2014 ASICs will ship in such vast quantities that difficulty will rise nearly 4 Billion every 12 days?
One thing you can bet on the cost of the hardware will be a fraction of what it is today.
But only a fool would not sit down and revisit their calculations in order to prepare to any anticipated changes that may come down the pipe.
Carbon may become a viable option over silicon before the end of 2015.
2012 http://www.kurzweilai.net/carbon-nanotubes-to-replace-silicon-ibm
Killing silicon: Inside IBMs carbon nanotube computer chip lab
2013 http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/147596-killing-silicon-inside-ibms-carbon-nanotube-computer-chip-lab
Researchers Build a Working Carbon Nanotube Computer
2013 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/science/researchers-build-a-working-carbon-nanotube-computer.html?_r=0
Then again who knows.
Edit: one also should realize that the calculator linked in this post does not calculate negative values for the bitcoin network difficulty.
A factor that the network difficulty does drop once those interested in mining realize the futility of investing into hardware for a profit the network speed increase drops until the next generation of technology becomes available.