Everyone agrees, it's finding a safe alternative that's hard.
Even a few major exchanges isn't ideal. We need a way to completely decentralize the exchange between fiat and Bitcoin but that is far easier said than done. People are working on it and I'm sure better solutions will come along. I'd personally like to see 100,000 people offering to trade it in person. Essentially anyone that uses it buying / selling on a spread. I think mobile clients will be key for this.
P.S. not a stab at Mt Gox. I think Mark himself will agree that centralization goes against the concept of Bitcoin.
I quit reading the rest of the thread here. I like this post! The way I see it is that in the future, if it pans out as you describe, Jered, Mt Gox won't need to be in control of anywhere near 95% of the total bitcoins in circulation to be not only a viable Bitcoin entity, but a profitable one at that.
God speed to both of you.
~Bruno~