Only 10 nodes per million people? I would've thought it'd be more in the US...
I'm thinking most people don't use the original satoshi client
Although lightweight clients look nicer, I'd prefer to run the satoshi client to support the network. Others should do the same
How does that support the network?
If you're using lightweight clients like Multibit you're just backpacking off the people using the satoshi client.
from the stand point that you're not storing a copy of the blockchain on your own personal computer? I agree, but are we really at risk of losing the blockchain?
The miners are validating it...
One of the reasons why lots of nodes are important is redundancy.
“It makes [the bitcoin network] ‘seem’ bigger, more robust and more decentralised, because there are more people uniting to run it. So there’s a psychological benefit.” - Hearn