Part of this arrangement is psychological preparation. If you cling to inflated expectations, it will likely hurt you by reversing should the unthinkable happen. The other part is of course hedging, if needed.
BitChick, the price doesn't necessarily correlate with usage because the price can far outrun it. Believe me, the latter half of the bear market until winter 2012 was one of the most productive Bitcoin periods, and it was also the worst one with regards to price appreciation.
I am bullish on 2014. I personally believe the VC and eco-system development of tools to bring Bitcoin to the mainstream + the "coolness" of accepting btc as businesses (like Overstock, I expect other large ones to follow in 2014) + the general positive tone from FINCEN and the U.S. Senate + the ETF and other potential money from Wall Street tilt the scales in favor of the bulls for the next 12 months. Do I think that x10 is possible in 2014 given all these scenarios? I certainly wouldn't bet on it. But I would be no more surprised than had you told me two months ago we would be at $1240 in Nov.
Do I think we could be in a bear market for the next 6 months. Sure, its possible. 20 months? I would bet against it, unless something VERY bearish happens. And then bitcoin might never recover if that was the case.
I'm mostly aggravated that this board, which up to 6 weeks ago, was fairly friendly, non-partial, and informative, as become part and parcel with the BTC-E trollbox.
But you've been around the bitcoin block a few times so, yes, I would be interested in your honest beliefs about probability.
I view it as improbable that this bubble will challenge its ATH anytime soon. I think it is probable that we will have several more months of either downtrend or consolidation. IF we go to ~100 billion market cap anytime soon, I would view a multi year bear market as the most probable option. My views are based on past Bitcoin history (charts), sentiment and my understanding of this world. I may be wrong, but my motive is capital preservation while still allowing my to enjoy Bitcoin's growth, as I have done in the past.
"I'm mostly aggravated that this board, which up to 6 weeks ago, was fairly friendly, non-partial, and informative, as become part and parcel with the BTC-E trollbox."
I've been bearish ever since the $900 peak more than a month ago (except for 2 short term trades). Even then I have brought up 2011 and got laughed at, so I hope you don't pin this on me. I have also been bullish for several weeks before that, it's easy enough to infer from my posting history. I am also noticing an increased amount of bears here lately.
Well there is certainly a case for why we might go down or consolidate for several months like we did in April.
Although there is something inside of me that cautions to believe that the future is that obvious. I think you may be right as far as Bitcoin's ability to overextend itself. However, I am of the opinion that if Bitcoin truly gets widely adopted as either/combination of a currency, commodity, or transfer of money system then there will be a point sometime in the future of massive growth. I agree with the Winklevosses and others that believe that if it goes up and out, it will go up and out faster than we imagined.