What it really gets us is a certain level of resistance against political interference. Using a simple electronic cash system is a million times more efficient, but the currency can be inflated and balances frozen by decree. Increasingly powers are being given to law enforcers to perform these actions without oversight.

As the political landscape worsens, bitcoin and similar technologies will begin to be used more, regardless of environmental concerns. The best way to avoid this would be to improve the political landscape with regards to money transmission/storage, which would be no simple task.