--snip--
However, to be absolutely clear, it should be added that value can change over time and history shows that it has changed significantly.
First faucet made by Gavin Andresen have been giving 5 BTC per visit!
--snip--
Well, my point still remains the same... I've had this discussion a couple times before, and i guess it's hard to wrap one's head around the concept, so i decided this time i'd give a theoretical (imaginary) example...
For example, at this moment, BTC is about ~$8000.
Let's create a theoretical example based on the mimum wage in my country : ~$12/hour, net (after taxes).
Let's say that in 1 year, the BTC price rises 100x
Situation 1: somebody claims faucets for 40 hours/week, 4 weeks:7 cents/hour * 160 hours = $11,2
Let's assume he's working from a local library so he doesn't pay electricity, pc or internet
Let's assume i grossly underestimated the income, and this person makes 10 times more per hour than i estimated (including a couple refferals).
This person now makes $112/month.
This is ~0.014
BTCIn 1 year, the BTC price becomes $800.000/
BTCThis person has now an equivalent of $11200 USDSituation 2: somebody works for minimum wage, 40 hours/week, 4 weeks and converts his wage into BTC:$12/hour * 160 hours = $1920
Since this person is lawfully employed, he doesn't have to pay for any charges (internet, devices,...)
He converts his $1920 into BTC ($8000/BTC) = 0.24
BTCIn 1 year, the BTC price becomes $800.000/
BTCThis person has now an equivalent of $192000 USDSo... The end result: even if the BTC price skyrockets in the coming years, the person that got the IRL job ended up with >17x as much BTC (or fiat) than the person that claimed from faucets. Also, i added a correction factor of 10 to the first situation, if i wouldn't have done that, the person with the IRL job would have ended up with 170x more BTC and fiat compared to the faucet guy... Last but not least: the IRL job guy made minimum wage, if he had any kind of education, or was willing to work odd hours or do a little harder job, he'd make significantly more...