Even the things that are built on Bitcoin are technically Altcoin offshoots. Bitcoin 2 tech such as Counterparty and Mastercoin are in the Altcoin section. I don't think core Bitcoin users know what to think about the new "improvements" to Bitcoin. If they embrace anything other than core Bitcoin somehow they feel like they're cheating on their lover. Or it could be as simple as they are sitting on a boatload of btc and they want the price to skyrocket before they sell. Of course, they'll never admit that because that's cheating too. I had a big argument with a old timer VIP once that was preaching about Bitcoin should never be sold because its going to be worth $10,000 each someday. All I could think to tell him was, "if you really believed that why did you give 50 of them away to this forum Mr. VIP big shot - do you regularly give your favorite forums $500,000"? I've always believed if the core Bitcoin devs sit with their thumbs up their asses long enough someone will come along and develop something that the people like more. That may be happening now.
I don't really care about altcoins (I do hold litecoin private keys). I'm a K.I.S.S. kind of guy. I think it's better to focus on doing one thing really well before trying to add all kinds of fancy bells and whistles. I think a decentralized ledgers best use case is primarily as money.
You see, that's the problem with innovators and mover/shakers, they don't know when to stop innovating and just be mechanics. Coders are mostly innovators. They can't be satisfied with just maintaining/perfecting someone else's design.
Bitcoins best use is simply being money that you can effectively shove in the receiver of a phone and have it spit out 10,000 miles away instantly. That's something that you just can't do with any other kind of money. Bitcoin does that well. The problem is that's not good enough for coders/innovators. They are hell bent on making Bitcoin replace pocket change, stocks, bonds, credit cards, debit cards and those little handi wipes that keep your butt good and clean. Businesses are taking over Bitcoin. They will temper innovation and make Bitcoin work perfectly for what it is first and foremost. Except that kook Patrick Byrne, he seems to be looking for handi wipes.
it must be because altcoins have got some pretty interesting projects going on now.
