A five-day-newbie here, and I haven't yet obtained my first bitcoin. I've a few fractions of one though!
Why I'm here is simple - this is a very unique "experiment" (and I use the word in quotes, because I can't think of the right word). When you consider all of the various traditional payment systems we use - credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, fiat currency in general, they all fit into a paradigm we're comfortable with - even though we shouldn't be. And we shouldn't be, because these systems are outside of our control, the rules can be changed at will, and not by us. And the powers that be can (and have) decided to erode the value of these currencies with their continual printing of more fiat.
This is *almost* like growing up knowing the world is flat, and then having the opportunity to take part in a voyage that will prove it isn't so.
Here we have, with Bitcoin, a non-inflationary currency system, with clearly defined rules, and a decentralised control system that no "powers that be" can change for their own advantage.
The more you stop and think about it - the more incredible and brilliant the design and outcomes of the design become.
I'm not here to make a few shekels of fiat, I'm sad I didn't discover this a long time ago, but glad I have now. Call this silly if you will, but I grabbed an ATI 6xxx card second hand today, just to set up a mining client on a box in the corner to eke out a few bitcoins just to be part of the whole thing, and perhaps one day, to be able to actually spend a few coins on something, knowing I *earned* those coins.
Yes, I know about ASIC's etc - this isn't a money making thing for me, it's a participation thing
