We are talking in circles.
Yes we are xD
If the seed is sufficiently secure/random with enough entropy, then there is a risk of losing/forgetting it or storing it where someone else will gain access. If it is simple enough to remember or figure out, then it is subject to brute force and dictionary attacks.
The point of having a backup of the seed is so you don't have to make a backup of your wallet everytime you create an address. That's the only use for a sufficiently secure/random with enough entropy deterministic wallet.
Sorry, but I'm arguing from a point of experience. I've talked with people who aren't comfortable with bitcoin because they don't have faith in their own ability to protect their money from loss and theft.
I had exactly the same fear when i started with bitcoin, i'm really a mess with everything and i usually lose things. So because of that fear, i did a backup of my bitcoin address (the main one i used) and encrypted it and then store it in a very safe place. Of course, i lost my mobile which had installed the bitcoinSpinner (with a pin number) and some funds. I then realized that was far much easy to lost the mobile than the bitcoins.
Note: I stored the key when i thought bitcoin was something like a file stored in my mobile. I mean i was a completly noob.
They have expressed that they'll take a look at bitcoin again when there is a reliable, trustworthy, insured banking system in place for it. There is clearly a market for this. If there is a market, then there are market forces that will bring it about eventually. I don't know if it will be 5 years, or 20, but I don't doubt that it will happen.
I agree, market forces will bring it if there is a market. But for today, market forces haven't done such a thing. FACT.
Once the banks exist and are holding people's money for them, I just don't see why they wouldn't attempt to engage in fractional reserve to boost their profits. Again there is market and a financial incentive for it.
Well because it is a fraud. That simply. And moreover that would make that bank credits were less worthy than the bitcoins they were backing (because of inflation) so people would change their 'credits' for bitcoins. Just in case you didn't notice, the market allways exchange something that is loosing value for something that is acquiring value.