The one hurdle that will kill Bitcoin: Public perception as an insecure currency. You know a nice thing about regulated banks is that I give them my money and I don't have to worry about never getting it back. I don't have to worry about an inept/crooked/anonymous CEO robbing it, losing a paper wallet, or a virus stealing my savings.

It takes more than a protocol to make a secure currency. It takes human systems too.


P.S. "Federal Reserve notes have not been redeemable in gold since January 30, 1934" - http://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12770.htm. Keep up.