Good post.
I have to add though, that medium/large businesses invest into steadier endeavors, as they have internal governance and approval processes (often with multiple layers) and added bureaucracy. Even technology centered companies that are entering this field.
Therefore, investing in younger, unknown crypto, new algorithms, and finding some gems which ultimately will bring great technology (ex. ethereum, ex zcash, ex dash, etc) will undoubtedly be rewarded. Indeed you will need to get lucky for this to happen and be on a constant lookout, invest a lot of time in scouring for new tech, and having flexibility and time to experiment.
Another piece of the puzzle is the POW. As long as POW is alive (it's already being phased out or at least being part of hybrid model) mining will be alive.
However as blockchain tech evolves, I believe POW might be superseded entirely, as we see it in more and more projects.
Wow mining is absolutely garbo and only getting worse..
not really, the ROI of about 1 year - 1,5 year is very good in the business world. ROI will continue to go down, its a simple supply/demand/allocation of resources in the business world (which crypto has taken a seat in). As the marked matures, the risk decreases the ROI will also increase.
They will buy cards with quantity discounts, without/low VAT, they will have cheap electricity and they will try to get low taxes. and when nvidia and amd launches new cards they will be before you in the queue. Now let's assume things are going well! Right good for everyone? Not necessary, they will increase their investments into the sector, further increasing ROI and pushing your profits down. Their profits will be larger, their share of the market will increase. ASICS development for algoritms will increase, limiting the flexibility for GPU mining, if some companies with GPU mining has a large "breakthrough" the profits will be temporary, the asics will arrive. Or mining farms.
I have 3 riggs and think its great fun, but I'm not buying more(just replacing cards). Can you still make money on mining? sure. Great money? maybe. But current status and development the effort and risk I dont think see how ROI can go down. You can still get
lucky. There is no scenario where we go back to old profits, that was early/first mover advantage (possible exception is an insane increase interest rates and inflation).
If you think the business world is just gonna sit and watch us make ROI >1 year and not jump in, you are in for a wakeup call.
My 2cents. I'm sure you will absolutely slaugther me, but wanted to share my thoughts.