It's sad to see that test coins are being monetized. By doing this you are not benefiting the niche as a whole.((
That's just another example: when an experimental tool is touched by speculation, its original purpose slowly dies.
Well yeah, it's sad. You may be experiencing culture shock (let's just say so); as in the 3rd world where people have to pay to even spit, it's very normal.
Anyway...
that's a consequence of a market existing for them.
I don't think it is sad, I think it is good for Bitcoin and exposing bugs + helping developers monitize their efforts.
Culture shock, perhaps, but free coins still exist... but people don't want to link AltQuick's faucet because we are the main exchange that allow both buying and selling.
The culture shock is a real problem; I figured it would happen, and honestly, I think all of us wanted / still want to avoid it as much as possible. We are Bitcoiners in our eyes, and we put in work. You are always welcome to do better or submit code to fix loopholes that likely shouldn't exist because they don't mimic Bitcoin anyways.
Testnet was created when Bitcoin traded for 5 cents... any mining power directed away from Bitcoin was dangerous AF. Bitcoin is $100,000 now and there are plenty of other mining options.
I do not see Bitcoin Testnet mining or having a dust value as a bad thing; I think, thus far, it has proven useful for showing "naughty behavior" and rough violent blockchain events.
It's a warzone, and you don't have to buy them. (Just like people don't have to like what Bitcoin Core chooses to do in the future with this or that.)
