The "long term storage problem" is the simplest thing in the world to solve. Consider that a bitcoin address is no more than a 50-some digit long number All you need is a copy of that number in a safe depot box.
An 'address' is a 160 binary number. This, of course, can be encoded in any format.
Just like it is done with the displayed addresses (Base 58 encoding).
But to be able to gain access over the funds sent to the address you need the private key (256 bit binary number), which also can be encoded into *any* format.
The question is wether you want to put it into a depot box.
It matters on how much you trust the phsysical security of this box.
If you want to keep it away from everyones knowledge, such a storage might not be the best idea.
Sort of right. I referred to the private key, which is a 50-some digit long number. How one encodes it does not address the question or affect the answer.
Next, the question was not "if you want to keep it away from everyone's knowledge."
But that really doesn't matter. Please take a moment to think this over.
A private key can of course be password encoded, or encoded using a private scheme. Most of the orientation on this thread is "How to save and THEN RETRIEVE bitcoins." This implies a device capable of the retrieval, a computer or a hardware wallet, whatever.
A paper wallet does not do this, it simply stores the values. Therefore it does not have the complexities of devices with computing capabilities or data storage capabilities.
It's quite reasonable to believe there will in the future be various ways to read these keys into active devices.
