Yeah, it's quite scary how unsubstantial Ether actually is. It's not even a currency. It doesn't even have a supply cap. It's a digital IOU. The whole concept just seems very convoluted, and more to appeal to investors than developers. Right now you're paying for an idea. Not a product.
+1
Truth for today what Ethereum it's a idea, BitShares it's already a product.
I think today technologically Ethereum can learn/take many innovations from BitShares, BitShares can get only marketing support from Ethereum.
Let's see at the end of the year what we will get from Ethereum, if their idea goes good, I don't see any problems to make BitShares Ethereum DAC based on BitShares toolkit and Ethereum technology which will be supported by BitShares community.
Another source:
http://www.reddit.com/r/ethereum/comments/2e0q0a/bitshares_guy_here_sorry_we_caused_such_a_stir_we/