But in the end, it will be the people that make or break Bitcoin, not the technology.
Very true. While the decentralized, typically "amateur" nature of the btc marketplace will yield some worthless offerings, it's also open to ANYONE from anywhere in the world. An impoverished Sri Lankan 17 yr old with $200 netbook could write the next killer app for Bitcoin. And the marketplace's hyper competitive nature, with almost no barriers to entry, will tend to produce brilliant products and services but these may be months away.
You know, you're right. I forgot about this. And the low barriers to entry are yet another great asset of Bitcoin. In fact, Bitcoin lowers barriers for *all* trade, but just those interested in Bitcoin-related business. An all-around win. And yes, some 18-year-old Bangladeshi with a $150 netbook could kick all of our asses on this and become the next Bill Gates. Unlikely, but entirely doable. It will be an interesting year, that's for sure.