Comment by ipaddr

"Im skeptical its actually being used as a currency in any real currency-fashion."

I don't know what qualifies as real currency-fashion to you but you can purchase things and services from many different places. At times credit card payment processors may be down you can use bitcoin to pay. It doesn't have to replace a currency it can be used as another way to spend or collect money.

It's also good in situations where you want to accept money but not open yourself up to risk like a donation button. A risk exists selling a product via credit card around chargebacks this method removes that risk.

In practice it works well and is being used. It's not replacing the dollar but it doesn't need to.