Do they now? I feel people still see Bitcoin mostly as a high-risk/high-reward no-barriers-to-entry alternative to the stock market.
[1] http://business.time.com/2012/02/27/warren-buffett-on-succes...
However, since we live on a planet with unlimited resources capable of unlimited growth, the theoretical loss of being the "last investor" is perpetually shifted to the next generation, thereby solving the pyramid scheme problem once and for all.
Once and for all, I said!
No. 'Dividends' do not matter.
The cash going into the companies bank account belongs to the shareholders, and it's reflect in the stock price.
When a company gives out $1 in dividends, it's valuation goes down by $1.
Technically, dividends don't matter.
In reality it's a little different, and dividends mean certain things, mostly about the companies ability to generate returns with that cash than you, the investor.
And FYI - there can be 'unlimited growth' - as long as there is innovation, and 'stuff keeps getting better' - we will see growth.
How's that work, bud?
The entire medical industry's growth is based on innovation.
Do you think the medical industry is growing because it's 'digging more resources' out of the ground?
'Cutting more trees'?
The entire financial industry, basically all of high tech.
Education.
Very few sectors depend on 'natural resources' for growth.
And even for some that do, it's minimal.
Most materials are abundant anyhow.
However yes I agree the past couple of months at least has been filled with rabid noobs, but HODL culture does a decent job of counteracting this