Depending on how the protocol works (irreversible?) it could be a very useful mechanism to move USD and thus facilitate greater peer to peer exchange of BTC for USD. I mean lets face it if you want to sell or buy BTC and you don't want to use an exchange, right now which is the "harder" half of the equation? Transferring BTC or transferring USD?
That's a good point, it will make it easier to cash out of USD into BTC!