1. What can I do with bitcoins? What can I buy?
2. What can I buy that's easier with bitcoins than using a credit card?
3. How does the general public view bitcoins? Do they see it as a get-rich-quick scheme?
The answer to all three questions does not bode well for bitcoin's short term value.
I don't disagree with your point; but it's not as bleak as you say.
A friend of mine was trying to organize an event in Las Vegas from the UK. He (I personally think unwisely) used paypal for transferring money internationally. Paypal suddenly decided to semi freeze the account, with the organisation money already transferred in. There was no way to get it out (i.e. to return to the initial state) and no way to pay for the things they wanted to pay for. Note: there was no scam going on, this was someone trying to pay for things with his own money. Paypal wrecked a planned Las Vegas event because they happen to be the man in the middle.
While being told that story I couldn't help thinking that Bitcoin has already won; PayPal are hated, and they keep doing things that make them more hated. Even if Bitcoin had nothing for sale other than national currencies it would be incredibly useful.
So.. in answer to your questions (1) I can transfer value anywhere in the world, close to instantaneously and reliably. Regardless of the current exchange rate -- there just has to be enough volume. (2) Easier than with a credit card? Well, it's easier to perform these transfers without having 2.5% gouged from you.
(3) I admit, it's not quite everday, general-public types of use, but those will come in time.
I, and another friend are already using bitcoins to settle those minor between-friends debts that friends often have. "Lend me 20 quid would you, I haven't been to a cash machine yet." "No need to lend, here's a couple of BTC (tip, tap, tip tap on smartphone) and we're even." "You get the cinema tickets", etc, etc. If I can just persuade my friend the landlord at the local pub to take bitcoins that will be 99% of my weekly cash needs replaced with bitcoin.
I actually think that the bitcoin community obsesses a bit much about there not yet being lots of vendors that we can point at. Bitcoin is
already better than cash/card for a great many purposes that don't have anything to do with buying products.