I argue in the OP that network effects can not stop a decentralized altcoin, because we don't need to go change all the servers on the internet. The network effects for financial institutions adopting Bitcoin is real and probably already insurmountable. So I think the door is wide open for a decentralized altcoin, but it is already closed for a centralized competitor to Bitcoin. Rpietila has been correct on every point, except that he doesn't appear to acknowledge that Bitcoin will be the centralized coin. I hope we can get his response.


Agree we do. I don't think we can conclude that about investment. The smaller altcoin will be more volatile but probably appreciate faster overall if you invest in the correct altcoin that is the winner yet you could lose it all if it fails or you invest in the wrong one. And the tax you pay on Bitcoin capital gains and net worth could approach 90% if we return the tax rates we saw during the Great Depression. The government and society is $150 trillion in global total debt and I estimated upthread only $241 trillion in global net worth but much of that $91 trillion balance is concentrated among the upper 1% and much illiquid such as real estate.  

In the past one could argue that sticking with the mainstream was the most conservative and safest option. Safety at this point doesn't exist any more. Massive risks on the horizon. Choose your poison. I prefer freedom.