[hyp0]

Some US dollars were paid to my paypal account; I won't convert them to local currency, but wait til I buy something in USD - and so avoid the exchange costs you mention. Meanwhile, my local currency works fine. Of course, the bigger the ecosystem for bitcoin, the better this works.

Credit cards are an incredible business for VISA etc. I agree with the article that circumventing it in some way, esp for micro-transactions, would be great. They probably should stop gouging, to deflate interest in alternatives.

It's a pity the press for bitcoin all bubble and crime. OTOH it is press, and niche adoption works.