Bitcoin is still in it's infancy stages - no where near "big". When you can get in before Wall Street you're getting in extremely early.

It's an interesting one. I've put in a large proportion of my savings, way more than is sensible but I'm confident for the future. Life will go on just fine if it all turns to shit.

I for one would definitely not be getting into debt for it, but I would never get into debt for anything. If I had big earning capacity and no dependents then perhaps I'd feel differently.

Anyone buying into Bitcoin now is still a ludicriously early adopter. Anyone who tells you otherwise is deluded or has an agenda. The price of entry is perhaps higher than it should be at this point but it's still utter peanuts compared to where it might go sooner than we think.

There are always boring periods. It helps to fuel the ones that make your head spin. I think prices will wander up, down and sideways for a while yet. It'll make the subsequent explosion all the sweeter.

I definitely agree with you that LTC and NMC don't realistically offer any diversification -- if bitcoin crashes big, it is going to take every altcoin down with it.  As speculative a gamble it is to invest in bitcoin, altcoins are even more of a risk (although I've still got a small amount of a bunch of them, because I think the higher risk is offset by a potential higher upside too).  Btw, stock splitting has zero effect on the amount of money you make from a stock investment.  It simply means that if you previously owned 1 share worth $10, you now own 2 shares worth $5 (assuming a 1 for 2 split).  Also, Amazon hasn't had a stock split since 1999, so not really relevant in this case.   Companies mainly do stock splits for one of two reasons: either the price is getting so high that it is posing a psychological or real barrier to retail investors' ability to trade, or the price is so low that the stock can't be listed on a major exchange (in which case, the company can do a reverse split).  E.g. to be on NASDAQ stocks generally have to have a share price of at least $1, among other requirements. 

It's unfortunate that it made you uncomfortable.

I found the whole thing highly exhilarating, but then again I've decided it's a long term thing for me rather than attempting to day trade. Doing that would take years off anyone's life.

I think I'll be in for a much longer wait than you. Cool problem to have though.

I always thought the three "B's" were beans, bullets and bullion.  Now it's four B's: beans, bullets, bullion and bitcoin

OP,  You lost a lot in the stock market?  If it was recent, you must have been making some risky bets - it's like Christmas every time my Fiance opens her quarterrly 401K statement the past couple of years.  One more plug for physical silver:  it's curently selling for less then mining costs, it's less then half the price of it's high several months ago, the gold to silver ratio (GSR) is over 60 - which definately makes silver attractive and many developnig nations/cultures love it for both it's industrial and store of value/money use.  It's a great "long term investment" - a hedge against riskier investments.  You can get silver at any coinshop for as little as $3. a coin for old U.S. coins and it's anonymous.  And lastly, it's proven over time - since before the birth of Christ!  I'm not saying: don't buy BTC - I buy a lot of it too.  I'm just saying it may pay to hedge.