I understand and like your thinking from the "A" side of the coin. Let me provide some counter perspective (just to keep in mind): All of these projects are essentially open source. Anyone can take the software at any point and create there own product. Additionally, there are many business cases where the BEST product does not necessarily "win"......(any one remember Betamax vs VHS?...probably to long ago for most :-), but there are other examples) Thus, a big part of this competition is one of who can create the best network effect......fastest, biggest, deepest. With open-source, marketing and consumer recognition weights quite heavily.
I do agree in principle and was definitely around for Betmax/VHS. It's also like pepsi/coke, nike/everyone else, microsoft/apple. So I completely understand where you're coming from.
Let's say someone ripped off the code and tried to push a knock-off with a killer marketing program... what would they call it?
Bitshares piggy-backing on Bitcoin is such a huge marketing advantage that even a knock-off with exactly the same feature set would have a heck of a time poaching market share.
And then... if someone were to try and snatch the code right now and try to beat Bitshares to market:
- It's not done
- No one in the world can develop faster/better than BM & Co.
- No one in the world can provide support like BM & Co.
And because the platform is constantly evolving, no one in the world can market it as quickly and effectively as Brian & Co. upon completion, because only Brian & Co. have direct access to BM & Co.
I think Bitshares enjoys one of Buffet's moats and it will be a long, long time before a competitor can build a bridge.