I think the people that are asking for government / legal intervention are ruinous to the bitcoin community. If you want to live in a place where there are no risks and progress is slow, why bother to venture into the bitcoin world? Aren't you sufficiently happy with the damage you've done in the real world?
There are a bajillion ways to improve the bitcoin economy to make this less likely in the future. Contribute! If you're only capable of requesting the use of direct, uninitiated force against, then... well.. don't.
What will happen to the integrity of the protocol as the majority of its users think we need a safety net to protect victims of carelessness?
A crime was committed. There are laws and punishment already in place to address this situation. You've been robbed. Do something about it.
Well, I am doing something about it, but not taking legal action, if that's what you were suggesting. As I implied above, I'm working (slowly) on something that will make this less likely in the future. Are you doing something?