4 different bitcoin forks require 4 different blockchains.
Yea but how many support all 4 ? not many
If someone is going to run a node they will just run the one they support the only ones that will run multiple nodes are companies that support all the forks
I am talking about us, the users, the bitcoin holders. If I have bitcoins at the moment of the fork then I have the new bitcoins too, so then naturally I want to have a functional respective wallet software to actually be able to use those new bitcoins.
Most now just use light wallets yes I run a BTC core node but I don't use it I have a TREZOR the core node just sits listening to connections there is no active wallet on it
When Bcash forked I just used electron cash I didn't care about a full wallet I just needed to sell same with most of these alts they are very low valued and don't justify running a full node.
1. (SELL) Use a light or hardware wallet
2. (SPLIT) Use a light or hardware wallet
3. (HOLD) Don't do anything but recommended to split
4. (TRADE) Most likely kept on an exchange
Well I guess it depends on how many bitcoins you actually have. If it's next to nothing then all this is just a game to you, but if you have at least a million usd worth of bitcoins and your whole existence (and possibly of others, too) depends on it, then (again, if you have half a brain) you wouldn't even for a second think about using any light wallet or keeping it at an exchange or doing anything less secure than the best. Then you would keep all your devices encrypted, you would use multi-factor authentication and your main worry would be that you forget your very long and very hard to remember passwords because you of course weren't that stupid to write it down. Then even the "low valued" fork is worth enough to live off it for the rest of your life. Then if there is even a small chance that the new fork might replace the original bitcoin you wouldn't even for a second think about selling it. Then you would think and behave totally differently.
Why keep a backup no point back up your wallet yes fair enough but no need to back up the entire chain its not going anywhere the only advantage is quicker sync after a failure
Yes, being able to recover in minutes after a failure instead of many hours, if not days, might be a big difference. Again it depends on the amounts and how much is it worth. If you have a $500 car then you won't probably care about it much, but if you have a $500k car then you will probably polishing it every other day even though there is "no point" - the difference is your perception of it and how you treat it changes.