I would say yes. You download the app (playstore, appstore or fdroid), install it. Then on first time opening it you need to choose a pin for the app and an username for your first profile. Then you can start chating. The gui is pretty similar to signal. And it works pretty good so far. I had problems with calls last time I tried (but a few month back it worked).
XmrLovingAncap
As long as the NFTs don't get saved onto the monero blockchain I'm fine with the idea :) (honestly I really don't care about NFTs)
Another full node selfhoster here. I did not notice any problems for me (except some transactions taking some time for confirmations), but I tried to onboard someone earlier and wondered why his freshly installed cake wallet acted weird. You might be onto something about official/public full nodes being overwhelmed or something.
I agree blockchain growth could become a problem someday. I think it's not right now and it probably won't be in the next few years (as @monerobull already pointed out).
I'd recommend watching this monero talk episode, because near the end Luke Parker (kayabaNerve) talks about what's next for monero after seraphis/jamtis. And to me it sounded like there is a solution for the blockchain growth problem in there (nova or what it's called?). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhNljgiQKp8
I think for now full chain membership proofs are one of the most important things for us (i.e. fixing the weakest link in the system aka ring signatures). After that we're mostly set on privacy and focus on other things like blockchain growth/accessability etc. (which seraphis/jamtis also tackles).
About the currency and store of value topic: In the literature it's often said money or a currency has three functions -> store of value, transfer of funds and unit of accounting. Thorsten Polleit argued in one of his latest books that these three functions actually can be condensed into a single one -> transfer of value. Store of value is just a transfer of funds through time. And unit of accounting is just that a business wants to pick the most liquid exchangeable good which circles back to transfering funds effectively and efficiently.
If you're now saying monero should be aiming for becoming the best currency, but not a store of value, you limit it's capability as a currency as transfering value (through time) is the fundamental function of a currency.
So we need to find a technical solution to that problem without compromising on the currency aspect.
So to wrap up, I appreciate your input as I agree, we need to always keep the shortcomings of monero in mind and work on improving them. I think the discussion around and permanent reevaluation of monero is one of the things that made it what it is today and if we can keep the spirit going it's what it'll make it successful in the future too :)
Okay fair enough. But selling XMR through localmonero.co doesn't seem that complicated. Or allark.app.
Can I ask, in what way are you affected by the delisting?
Also writing one email isn't brigading I would say.
I don't think you know what features are needed for sound money. You might want to read about austrian economics to get a better understanding of this.
I want to sell everything and buy as much XMR as I can xD
Are you aware of Localmonero? Also with services like Allark, Coincards, ShopInBit, ProxyStore, Monezon and AnonShop I don't really see a big problem of converting your XMR into fiat or products you need :)
Wait for ~4h, churn (send to your own wallet), repeat this a few times and then start to cash out (not everything at once)
great article! Only thing I add would be the app grayjay as an alternative to newpipe :)