You won't need the whole blockchain, or confirmations, or 51 character private keys. That will be managed by whatever replaces Visa & Mastercard (unless they are more flexible then I predict).
I know nada about how the network works
Then you will need to place as much trust in those "managers" of your BTC, as you currently often have to do with fiat. What's the point of having BTC if you are going to be using it in a way that will let others easily deprive you of it?
I agree with you. I *do* enjoy the new freedom and control . But I know that, if I want BTC to reach it's full potential, there are 2 things that will contribute significantly:
1) regulators have to tolerate the system
2) 'mom & pop' have to use BTC (even if they dont understand it and couldnt care less about it).
2% fee's will solve all the BTC problems: slow-confirmation-risk, seller-risk, etc. Mom&Pop will use it. *Not* because BTC is so great but because there is no reason not to use it (a bit like PayPal). Similarly, BTC brokers need to have mandatory reporting to the IRS just like stock brokers. This will keep the gov't happy.
I WANT that to happen so we can all continue to enjoy our new (and growing) economic freedoms. I dont see this as black-or-white: (freedom vs. regulation) but rather a mix that moves in the right direction. Same thing happened with the internet. Providers have lots of control, take big fee's and have to give up data to the gov't when asked. But look at the freedoms gained......right? Huge!
So, just like the revolution in "how we get information".....I'm hoping for a similar revolution in how we get/use/transfer 'value'