The point is you get to spend your at a place where they won't normally take btc. Most businesses aren't going to accept Bitcoins based on the fact that it's new, unregulated and the creator is unknown.
Well, I think you just
won the post

I guess I was going for having the merchant be part of the bitcoin cycle but you are right.
Haha, I didn't win. We just got into a healthy little debate.