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https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=905210.msg
While I do not agree with the philosophical view of the OP, he could easily support his theory and prove many of you wrong... within time.
Bitcoin is becoming more centralized every day.
More miners are turning off their machines.
More manufacturers are deciding to mine exclusively for themselves.
Very soon there will be less individuals and more conglomerates controlling Bitcoin, but people will still buy and use it.
The marketing is working and there are more new users brought in all the time, but look at every post when someone asks if they can be a miner... No, it isn't worth your time, some people say even with free power it isn't.
Even today if you decide you want to mine to exclusively support the coin and decentralization where do you buy your hardware? There is not a single company currently selling hardware to the small home miner - worth having. People will debate Bitmain and you can have them. The same with Avalon, take it. Buy used, yeah, buy large scale used mining rigs and see the kind of quality you receive. How fast things changed. I wanted to buy a large amount and had the deal put together and boom no more SPTech available (except used)
I am not saying these things to be negative about the coin. I invested in miners for the same reason I used to top out my PC, my trucks and cars, or anything else; I enjoy it for many reasons. I lose money being an idealist at different stages in my life for different things. It doesn't have a huge impact because it is a personal tax. Welcome it, love it, or leave it, but do not hate it. Just like my ex wives heh.
I think people should take a look at the real core in this scene and realize these things. It seems to me that unless something changes we are on an accelerated path to Bitcoin belonging to a single entity. It may be covert in the day, but it will not take long to burn out at the current pace like a pump and dump alt with Bobsurplus at the helm.
When I say burn out I do not mean lose value. No, No we cannot have it getting lower than $140.00. I mean lose the value it has to me and most of you. The Satoshiness. The fact there are millions tied up in the people, software, jobs, investments, and on, no it will grow, but not the Individual miners.
I suppose I am fortunate SP decided to stop selling when they did. Otherwise I would have spent a considerable amount to be more involved. Up until this month I was buying coins on a schedule, I rented hash to mine, along with my personal farm and paying the electric bill every month. It is a good feeling, but I cannot keep going when I see the centralization happening.
It isn't as though I am some conspiracy theorist. Every member of every respected panel has said the exact same thing regarding there only being a few companies within a short time. They each want it. They each want to control this coin the way Alts are controlled today by single individuals. I am not saying the leader at each company has the same motive and end game, but be real with yourself, they are companies built to make a profit. They will self-mine until the difficulty reaches a point it makes sense to sell the miners, and they will, and people will eat them up. Who controls the coin? Who works for who? Who is being manipulated?
Good or bad intentions, this is the road we are on.
Humans do this to most things don't we? We love too much of a good thing. It is in our nature. I know I do. But when we know we are doing it, yet we still do it, some do it for kicks and notoriety those who wake up the next day like we were at the bar showing our tits the night before, embarrassed, asking why, and most internalize and move on to the next shiny thing.
OP, in my opinion you make a good point, but probably not the one you were after.
We all must answer for our transgressions, but to who, what, and why?
The only answer which can be provided today, is from and to yourself.