Bitcoin was once on track to become a crypto- currency for small day to day purchases, but it's not anymore. However that's not Bitcoins fault per se. It comes down to economic fundamentals and the way Bitcoin appreciates in value. So does Bitcoin need to change to once again be a currency for those day to day purchases? No, I don't believe so, and even if it could I don't believe it would help because Bitcoin appreciates in value over time.
Bitcoin is currently heading in the right direction and if innovative upgrades like Segwit keep on coming I'm sure it will become faster, cheaper and more attractive to the masses. But if it continues to appreciate in value Bitcoin will not be used as a day to day currency, and this applies to any other crypto-currency that appreciates in value over time. I mean unless you have no choice it would be very unwise to spend an appreciating asset for day to day purchases, Most people understand this and so most people won't use Bitcoin for day to day purchases.
Lets face it, Bitcoin has become something more important, more useful than just a P2P digital currency. Bitcoin has become an investment tool for the masses, a settlement layer, a currency for larger purchases and its become a store of value and that store of value relies on the 8 years of confidence that it currently has, and that confidence needs to be maintained so we can continue seeing growth and draw in new crypto-enthusiasts.
Aggressive moves from the B2X and BCH camps if unsuccessful will only help to strengthen Bitcoin and improve user confidence, but the danger is 'what if' one of them was successful and managed to weaken or even replace Bitcoin, the instability that would create could be extremely damaging to the entire crypto-ecosphere
B2X corporate-coin and BCH Wu-coin put up the argument that Bitcoin has deviated from Satoshi's vision, its no longer a P2P for day to day purchases and so now their coins should replace it. Thats a smoke-screen, the only reason why these aggressors want to replace Bitcoin is so they can steal Bitcoins brand and the value/confidence thats stored within the brand. Put simply they want to profit and they want power at the expense of Bitcoins value to the entire crypto-community.
We have some very good alternatives for day to day purchases, ones that are relatively price stable, Litecoin for one, it was designed especially to be the silver to Bitcoins gold, to be the currency for day to day purchases. We can use that, or Dash even Monero all are reasonably price stable, but to my mind Litecoin is the standout.
I try to tell people this. In a real world scenario btc may not work because of the slow transaction times. With that being said, btc will have to prove to the market it's capabilities outside of being a real good store of value down the road. Other coins are geared up to take it's position as the one crypto that can be used in a real world without the hindrance of slow transaction times.
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Slow transactions times and fees are not really the main issue. I think most of us have unrealistic exceptions for Bitcoin, we cannot seem to let go of the past. It was once a promising crypto for day to day purchases but its value over time increased dramatically and so made it too valuable to spend. I can't see this situation changing, not unless Bitcoins price stabilises in the future, but I can't see that happening. Slow transactions times and fees need to be improved, but if they do it won't change the uptake of Bitcoin for day to day purchases.
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