Well if it has value and people are using it then they're going to regulate it at some point.

The governments aren't just going to sit back and let us use Bitcoin freely. They'll want their cut. Regulation is natural process really.

I have no issues with law enforcement oversight. Law enforcement oversight != regulation.  I have no problems with law enforcement knocking out SR type sights people on them.

I do have issues with financial oversight (regulation) by governments that are hypocritical and motivated by corruption.  Eliminate the conflict of interest, and i'll happily pay my bitcoin tax.

The 2 forces of government and law enforcement cannot be disjointed, as law enforcement is a subdivision of the authority vested by God into governments, but the conflict of interest must and will be eliminated...and bitcoin will be that tool which does it.

That being said: bitcoin will survive.

This latest chain of events highlights the 3 worst things that could ever go wrong with the currency:
#1 Protocol issue: Being fixed, and once fixed.. will demonstrate just how "simple" it is to "fix" the protocol: try that with a fiat system.
#2 Major exchanges going down:  Will obviously be coming back up.  See what happens to fiat when the 2 largest banks in the world go offline for days.
#3 DDoS: is being mitigated: See what happens to fiat when the global banking system is hit by DDoS over a period of days.

Bitcoin is already regulated - or self regulated - in the sense that most exchanges require KYC verification. This is to be expected - after all, if you want to swap large amounts of USD for Euro, for example, you'll be asked to provide ID. It's the regulatory uncertainty that's the issue at the moment - clarity one way of the other will bring liquidity to the market.

I don't think 'self regulation' will happen.  Best would be clear regulation by each government (so that people are not afraid to buy and spend with btc, pay their taxes etc), that would secure customers into using it on an everyday basis. Many people still trust their government to protect them.  I think bitcoin is a fantastic tool and is a perfect payment method and I really wish this to be widely used.  Just not many people using it to buy things yet, compared to credit card. (Well not in our business anyway).

From what I can see (any I may be wrong) It is still mostly an investment gambling activity, based on the swings of the value, people buy and sell en for currencies not much for products or services (well, legal ones).  My opinion is this will have to change and value will have to stabilize before people get comfortable spending em instead of holding em for future profit.

I don't think the BTC will be regulated, as it will be exactly the same crash like in EU zone, equalisation of every currency - terrible mistake of EU.

Regulation of BTC is not necessarily a good thing BUT, I think regulation of major players lends credibility to the system and IS a good thing.  I like to know that my exchange isn't going to close up shop and abscond with my BTC overnight.  I like the idea of regulation not for users, but for major institutions. 

The thing is, eventually this transforms into companies asking favors for the government, and in turn the government gives these certain companies advantages over others. We don't want bitcoin exchanges to turn into the the top 6 national banks. Next thing you know, we'll be saying MtGox is too big to fail, too big to jail. I don't even want to imagine that scenario. Ugh.

You don't need an ip or name to get a transaction on the chain.

Yes you can