Well I'm happy for you, that's great that there is big development over there happening with Bitcoin. I wasn't necessarily saying that tendencies in U.S. cities here are how every place works, I'm not some ignorant American gun totin' overweight hillbilly "'Merrica is freedom'" dick head a lot of people in the E.U., and rest of the world for that matter, likes to portray us... But in theory, you have to get that what has been going on, at least where I live, technically makes sense. Even you said where you lived has some big developments with Bitcoin in your area, while I live in the US who is technically a major player in the Bitcoin world, I'm in an area of the U.S. where there is no knowledge or developments being made that I know of within a 4-5 hour drive radius.
Yes, of course. And I was merely implicating that there really is many places in the world where just 'going to BTC ATM' is not an option. Like said, here in Malta we have 0 bitcoin ATM's. Does that mean no one in Malta is interested in bitcoins? No, it doesn't. So for Maltese guy who would like to get his first bitcoins after hearing about them options are;
1. Buy from LocalBitcoins with cash from fellow Maltese guy. Price depends on seller, usually bit more than market but you can get it the same day.
2. Verify yourself on European exchange (send ID, proof of address), make regular SEPA transfer after your account is verified (and wait 1-2 days for it to arrive), buy bitcoins and withdraw them to your wallet. Here the price is the market price but whole process will take at least week if it's your first time and there is multiple parts which might not be so easy for someone just getting into it.
This was my whole point in all it's simplicity. Even though you yourself would not need LocalBitcoins at all or wouldn't understand why someone pays extra for it, I do understand it perfectly. It is the convenience, speed and easiness compared to buying from exchange the first time.