Apparently the only way to keep people around is price doubling every month or so ...

That's obviously sarcasm is it not? There's enough bears around believe you me.
Of course there is, they are mostly those that invested week, two or three weeks ago and shitting their pants as soon as BTC dips 20$. To prove this just browse through speculation forums. Beside few permabears who enjoy being contrary cunts at 50/100/500/1000, no matter what, 99% of other bears that are openly shitting their pants are guys with 10-80 activity, newcomers that invested at higher points and can't sleep now thinking about their investment being wiped out.
Been there, been like that.
The bad thing for them is that those that invested earlier are usually much more loaded and are ready to slaughter them as they have experience to know that BTC always comes back and only government ban could stop it. Since most important Government basically gave a green light to crypto currencies 2 weeks ago they are pretty relaxed and know that despite inevitable dips, flash crashes or bear markets, there is only one mid-term/long-term direction. Up.