I guess that was my point. Anyone can't just mine and have it be profitable anymore. An average person can't just decide they want to be a part of this and start mining bitcoin (and see any kind of real result) without it requiring significant investment, and living in the right place with the right electricity rates.
why do you think that? nobody is stopping anybody else from making that kind of investment and taking the risks that the numerous miners have been taking and mine bitcoin. it is not an exclusive market that they wouldn't sell you ASICs. i think your problem is that you don't want to make that kind of commitment and instead prefer to take the least amount of risk (not buy any new equipment that is ASIC and use what you already have which is a PC) and make the most reward. well that's not going to work. in fact part of the security of bitcoin is ensured because of that. in some ways this is making sure miners are committed to the work they are doing.
the investment is not that significant as you think either. the range of ASIC prices is usually between $1000-$2000 and considering the fact that you would be mining the only decentralized and the most valuable currency in the world, i'd say it is a cheap price to pay.