1.
http://bitcoincharts.com/markets/ shows that yes, you could go onto one of the exchanges and pay $17 for 1BTC
2. I'm no economist, but I think there are far too many variables to say. The value of a bitcoin is in part based on how useful it is. If it is easier to spend 1BTC than $1 then that's going to count in Bitcoin's favour. That's definitely not the case at the moment but who can say what it will be in 20 years.