Bitcoin miners - will they go the way of coal miners?

[gomotomoto]

How did bitcoin developers plan on rewarding the miners when all the coins have been distributed? What's to keep them motivated to support the backbone of this technology? With transaction fees low, there's not likely going to be enough margin there for all their risk/efforts. Doesn't seem like a good plan. Maybe I'm being too simple.

The whole "we'll figure this out down the road" thing probably won't sit well with most as time moves closer to this reality.

Did you watch the TV show LOST? Those writers tried figuring shit out as they went along, and we all know how disappointing that ending was. However...better writers could have blown our doors off.

[OmegaStarScream]

It's already planned, the miners will get paid off the fees instead of block rewards. With the limited supply, bitcoin price should increase and the fees will worth much more. Its nothing to be worried about on our lifetime though, all bitcoins won't be mined until 2140