Silkroad being gone is actually good for Bitcoin. Sure, it helped in its infancy, however Bitcoin's next step is to be accepted by large corporate entities, and this will definitely help clear up its image some.
Besides, think out of the box a bit. By 2015, there will be a movie that takes us through the journey of the rise and fall of SR, along with the murder for hire plot against FriendlyChemist.
When that movie hits, bitcoins will once again get a lot of press and bring new people to look into it.
Heh, I just read up on the SR bust and saw the BTC value wow...,,, but like you said hopefully the image will improve now for BTC...seems to be coming up a bit already since reading the artical,,,, Besides, think out of the box a bit. By 2015, there will be a movie that takes us through the journey of the rise and fall of SR, along with the murder for hire plot against FriendlyChemist.
When that movie hits, bitcoins will once again get a lot of press and bring new people to look into it.
SR isn't the only game in town. Just the most public, which really was the beginning of the end for that site. Plenty of stuff to spend your BTC on if you are really into that sort of thing. 
