I've been discussing Bitcoin in a couple of forums, and I'm shocked by the vitriol and anti-Bitcoin passion that I'm finding. It seems that the mass media FUD has turned away the very people who could benefit most from Bitcoin. In contrast, Bitcoin is becoming stronger every day, and is moving towards becoming a store of wealth, and it seems to be moving into the ambit of the rich and the knowledgeable. I'm giving up on Bitcoin evangelism, and concentrating on fattening my wallet.
I thought that Bitcoin might become one of the currencies used by people when the fiat systems collapse, but I think this will only be a minor use. I believe that fiat cash will be used for a while, and silver coins could become a longer term solution. Of course it all depends on the cryptos that are introduced by the various governments, and whether there will be any trust in them.
What are you talking about? the satoshi is the coin of the masses, and bitcoin belongs to the elite.
Actual silver coins have the very same problem of gold coins. In the physical realm, they can be counterfeited, and not everyone will be able to verify (in real time) that their coin weights exactly what it should, or is completely made of what it should. This built-in verification does exist in Bitcoin.
In any case a coin is only a means of storing value. It did not come to "redistribute" wealth. Sure it did help a few early believers, good for them, but for the masses, it will always remain a legend. The difference is Bitcoin brought us a coin that that is separate from the State, a coin that doesn't lose value overtime. We can use it or not, nobody is forcing us anything, unlike the State issued fiat...