addendum:
Everyone else is still in the 'i missed the boat so there is no point' camp. I think this means we are a long, long way from the *actual* new-paradigm-bubble event, and the strongest contrarian indicator that now is still the time to be buying and hodling.
I've had the same experiences with my friends, family and colleagues. Of the dozens and dozens of people I've had conversations with (since the spring), three have purchased coins now (but not until half-way through the October/November run), one is waiting to buy on a dip, and the rest either think bitcoin is stupid/scam/ponzi/etc or they think they've missed the boat. It's funny because a lot of people thought they had missed the boat this summer at $120.
The real new-paradigm-bubble event will correspond with MSM articles that explain--using the gold market cap, or M3 money supplies of the USD/euro/JPY/etc--that if bitcoin grows to become a major international currency, then its value must be $100,000+. A lot of people can't fathom how it could increase 5000%+ this year and still have plenty or room to grow. But eventually, everyone will "get it" and they'll be wondering why I'm selling a few coins at $40,000 when "dude, this thing has a good shot at hitting a million bucks!"
