I think Bitcoins can and are succeeding, but the ecosystem requires commitment at this early stage of the game. Putting up a couple of CPU/GPU machines will not generate much of anything other then the possible satiation of academic curiosity. There is nothing wrong with this but I think it is a fallacious conclusion to say that Bitcoins wont succeed based on this type of limited exposure.

Based on what I have seen from the Euro crisis and the deflation of the dollar, I think the world may be ready for Bitcoin.