Addition information about Ripple:
I have about 2000XRP and I believe you that the value will go up, but I just traded some for $2USD and I don't see any way to get it out. I don't want to ask anyone to get out of bed for 2000XRP. But maybe in 6 months.
Ripples are only traded at ripple. There is just the one exchange, but folks who buy ripples can potentially do it other places.
I am waiting for my $2USD to clear to bitstamp. That was quick. (Bitstamp acknowledged the $2 deposit.)
The $2.00 came to BitStamp without any loss/fee during Tx. But to buy ripple now, at BitStamp, $2.00 will only get me 100XRP, and that seems to be a precisely fixed price.