Exactly. This move actually strengthens Bitcoin in my view. We need someone with Gavin's experience focused more on macro thinking than micro details.

My favorite analogy for the task of core developers pushing Bitcoin code changes is it's like working on a 747 going hundreds of miles per hour. Make too big a mistake and the whole thing could crash and burn (or at least scare the hell out of the passengers). When Bitcoin was small it really needed hands on production to allow things to take off. Satoshi, Gavin and the core devs did a great job of that. Aside from some minor bumps the project has been a great success, claiming a multi-billion dollar market cap with all signs pointing to major investment funds lining up.

The stakes are higher for real world Bitcoin implementation issues now. There is no turning back and there is more pressure to get things right the first time. A better title for this post might be: Gavin Andresen Switches Focus from Lead Developer.

At the same time, the community can be introduced more publicly to Wladimir van der Laan.

Think of it like a brilliant family doctor you've been going to for years. He solved your problems easily and you trusted him completely. One day you walk in to see a fresh new face. Your doctor explains this is a hand picked hot shot out of med school taking over while the doctor transitions away from direct patient activity, to spend time reviewing medical journals, finding cures for cancer, that sort of thing. He makes it clear he's still available should he personally be needed, and you might seem him time to time. He leaves you and the new doctor with his phone number. This situation IMO is a win for everyone involved.

I saw this yesterday, I think its awesome.

You can bet if they are successful on the UnionPay/Discover platform others will follow...

Here is a survey I put together for sentiment about the China/IRS stuff coming down on the 14th:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3JCCVP7

Up to 283 responses, you can see the current results after you submit, will share all the data after it closes on the 13th

The experiment is coming to an end.

or both.

He lost faith in Bitcoin and realized it's broken beyond repair

how many people don't give a shit about Bitcoins, and just want weed legal *raises hand*

It's all part of the ease of use, and to protect newbies from doing something wrong. Like warning about importing private keys and advising to sweep them if they could ever be compromised. Not allowing a full address to be copy/pasted in one shot would be useful so someone doesn't use a wrong address in the clipboard. Anything to make key handling safer.

You are saying "If you make everything unsafe, everyone will be safer." I'll bet you don't ever complain when someone does something foolishly that harms you, because that would imply that you are an idiot for being careless.

"If you make something idiot proof, someone will just make a better idiot."

If i had a Bitcoin Prison, For sure, this guy is going in there:

Vladimir Putin!