So you're setting the prices on gems to a specific number of bitcoins? That's pretty cool, assuming they're not overpriced. In theory, if every bitcoin merchant were to do that, it effectively keeps the value of bitcoins from going below a certain level. (Of course, if the gems and other goods are overpriced, it creates a ceiling for the price instead, devaluing bitcoins somewhat. So please don't do that.)

Anyway, I don't know a lot about gems, but this is at least interesting, if it's legitimate. I don't suppose you're planning to go into precious metals as well? Or just gems? Either way, kind of a neat service.

That's actually a really cool idea. I wonder whether I trust local people more than exchanges, though. But then again they're stuck with the fact that the transfer is irreversible, so it's really more of a question of them trusting me in a way. That could work.

I saw this all mentioned on the Something Awful forums, and while they're making a good bit of fun of bitcoins, it seems like a better idea than they're giving it credit for. I figured that with the recent market crashes, it's basically become affordable to outright buy bitcoins again, and I can't be the only one thinking that way. So I'm here to give it a shot, and see what it's all about.

There are no other ways to buy BTC at this time? I guess of the two, I'd trust Dwolla more, just because in looking around it seems like what more people have had success with. But if there are other options, that'd be cool too.

Wait, does the time factor involve time spent on the forum, or time since the account was created? It's fine either way, but I don't really see how it cuts down on spam if it's the latter rather than the former.

To ask a really obvious question, is there a particular reason NOT to trust either of Paxum or Dwolla? Are those what most people use?