Well it would be nice to get whitlisted so I can PM a certain merchant to acquire some bitcoins!

I actually had another account here before but that was over a year ago and I sadly lost my login details.
I know how to handle btc (wallet in encrypted file, downloading blockhain, etc) and would like to get some more as a little personal investment.

Encrypting your wallet & holding the coins yourself indeed seems the best. Just don't forget to make a few (encrypted) backups!

Will only be as much as people are willing to give for it... They have no intrinsic value.

BUT if you can trade them for IRL goods this becomes another story, they will only boom if lots more of big online merchants start to accept them. Imagine Amazon or eBay although I doubt this will happen anytime soon...