Exchange is a cardinal point to bitcoin adoption and usage in fact exchange is a primary factor that contribute to bitcoin scalability if truly we want to see bitcoin mainstream adoption then the exchange is the vehicle to achieving that.
Why some feel exchange are anti-Bitcoin and road lock to bitcoin success is because of the number of bad factors that are emanating from exchange operations such as hack and exit scams perpetrated by exchange owners which in turn give bitcoin a public bad image. But bitcoin users are now becoming well informed as to how to relate with exchange cautiously by not storing their large funds on the exchange because it is better to have your Bitcoin held in a private wallet that only you know the keys to that wallet.