All you pro-bit coin sycophants should listen to the episode of Thinking Liberty where they talk about Bit Coin.
Not sure who is being a sycophant...I see people in this thread who see positive qualities in bitcoin.
I did listen to the podcast you mentioned last night, and the main criticism that I heard is that it isn't anonymous right out of the gate like some in the MSM are saying. Reading more, it looks like there are measures you can take to make it as anonymous as you want (and not just by using anonymizing services like torr, which they talked about some potential problems with on the show).
I think there are some people here who are transferring their well-earned distrust of fiat money ontp bitcoin. It seems almost reflexive in this thread. Yes, this iteration of bitcoin might not be the e-money that ends up winning out. But people who don't see that transferring wealth with nearly zero transaction cost in a potentially anonymous way HAS VALUE...attributes that gold, though it has many great, well proven qualities, does not have (and that value is proven by the fact that people currently use bitcoin to make these very transactions) have their fiat blinders on, IMO.
Obtaining bitcoins to save IS speculation...it's definitely a risk. Obtaining them to spend, however, is completely practical, and makes many transactions easier, faster, and cheaper.