But I believe the first actual realization of Bitcoin's real value as a payment network was when the Silk Road was built by Ross Ulbricht. There was a gap in the online drugs market, which obviously no financial institution would service. Bitcoin filled that gap - plus made that market more efficient and payments became a little less frictionless.
Many people in BitcoinTalk probably consider Ross Ulbricht a mere criminal because he built something illegal. But from another point of view, he's also an accelerationist who wanted to change the exisiting state of affairs.
I did not research too much about Silk Road and Roll Ulbricht. I read some documents about it but only occasionally when someone shared information about it. I can not discuss too much about it with you but I agree early Bitcoin adopters played important role for Bitcoin community in the past and how it has grown so far, exclusively Silk Road and Ross Ulbricht.
Damn!!! I wish I have a time machine so I could go there and buy BTC from Theymos, hehe theymos be like, can't you just tell me not to sell, you time travelers, hehe. Well, it is what it is, everything takes time to reach to a position (a high one) where BTC is currently going to rest.
If it is another person, I think there are more reasons to regret because he likely sold all bitcoins he had at very cheap price.
This one is about theymos, who is a very strong Bitcoiner and he has still been here with us, took over the forum administration from Satoshi Nakamoto and lit the forum up over the years. I believe theymos actually reserved some bitcoins he mined when it was easily to mine and price was cheap, for his future fortune. I also believe now he already got a fortune. No big regret from theymos, is what I believe.