I received the original PDF of Zimmerman's technical analysis (
http://www.coindesk.com/bitcoins-falling-volume-herald-bull-run/) a few days ago from a friend who is the head of one of the worlds largest commodities traders in the world (Think revenues bigger than GE and Exxon combined...).
He hadn't understood Bitcoin for some time with the constant whats the intrinsic value argument in the back of his mind for some time. He is also for sure the smartest person I have ever met (undercover billionaire for sure). Once I explained the block chain to him over breakfast in between his 3 phones constantly ringing it piqued his interest.
He asked me to send him more info so a few days later I sent him the white paper, Marc Andreesen's article on why bit coin matters and as a bit of fun, Slippery Slope's million dollar model. He responded with interest and now he is sending me all their analysis that they are doing.
These guys are watching and waiting now. Not to say they are completely bullish yet but I think come the ETF's, options and derivatives, once they can hedge themselves a little better then things are going the way of slippery slopes model IMHO.
All this tells me that all the smart people get it once you furnish them with the correct facts. It is simply that a lot of them are not bothered to find the correct facts as they are too busy to listen to anything other than the media. When you meet people tell them that the currency is just the first app of the block chain. THEN they get it.
