Actually, all your questions are answered in the white papers. You know ever since Ripple went opensource. So, you can make your own version, if you think it is easy money for developers
Cap of 100 billion XRP is hardcoded into the system (but there are only seven in circulation right now, I give you that), so ripple will have massive advantage over any fiat currency as far as gaining value. However, nobody ever said, that it will replace Bitcoin or gold as store of value. That would be bad idea as deflationary, precious metals are terrible means of exchange for consumer society such as ours.
Like I said before, I see a point in the system as it adds actual value (you too, cause you choose solely ripple to attack, not all those bit-clones, unlike me you just chose position of fear). I also see added value in another altcoin, that isnt finished yet, so I wont mention it here.
By the way, if you hadnt been lazy (all your criticism about deposits being complicated), you could have tens of thousands bitcoins back in 2010. You know, when there was no Bitstamp and coins were still cheap.
Deposits/Withdrawals to Ripple will be even faster, when first banks start to function like gateways. Like they already do with paypal. No middle man, just bank account and your web based client. Your average Joes dream come true.
Bitcoin+
Ripple+
One other alt to be finished soon...+
Feathercoin? Primecoin? In ten years from now, they will be vaporware.
EDIT: Congrats, on being able to write 10+ papers on Bitcoin, I certainly couldn´t, as mere accountant, not programmer.
you are mistaking by thinking I am afraid of this "ripple", I am not afraid about Bitcoin nor Litecoin loosing value or investors by these alts or Bridges as you like to call them, I am a believer of the open market and its effect.
yet I remember earlier this year when ripple was released and they started the give out, it wasn't an open source currency, a company owns the project, and they give out a shit load of ripples but now they are selling it, I think you do understand what that means.
so ripple is against all what we believe and actually Bitcoin have, and for me it is easier and it make more sense to use Paypal than ripple as a payment bridge.......
and well I wasn't lazy as you stated, it took me a while to get the bitcoin concept as my friend was ignorant and didn't explained it good, simply because he didn't know what was the thing exactly was all he knew that he has to buy a graphic card and has to sing up in a pool and run phoenix and then he will sell the "power" which than he will get a "coin" that he can sell for money
it was like WTF and I ignored this for sometime until one day my curiosity made me search the subject my self, and when I found out about bitcoin I invested all I could at the time, it seemed too much at the time but if I knew that the price will go up like this I would even sell few things I didn't need at the time and buy more bitcoins.