A bigger issue might be if it counts as "probable cause" to get a warrant. Seizure of records and computers would put a crimp in anyone's day, even with no conviction or even an arrest.[0] Heck, even if all it does is in practical terms is to raise the odds of an IRS audit a bit, or raise the odds of an audit becoming a criminal investigation (by being considered a "badge of fraud"[1]), that would be enough to squelch adoption.
[0] Maybe Steve Jackson Games should start working on a "Cryptopunk" GURPS module and get raided[2] again: http://www.sjgames.com/SS/
[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraudulent_conveyance
[2] Holy crapoly, that was 30 years ago. Damn, I feel old.
If everyone took your advice no one would protest, write a political comment against anyone in power, take any position that isn't accepted by all and be ready to drop that opinion when society shifts.
You live in a free society. Use your freedom or risk losing it.
Privacy has never been more important to the aggregate HN commenter than it is today. Moreover, nothing I said enjoins people from making political statements or protests.
Alternatively, buy bitcoin through your bank. Use it to buy monero on an exchange.
Alternatively, wait 6-9 months and exchange your btc with xmr using an atomic swap, on-chain.
How do you ensure this person does not know who you are, whilst also ensuring they don't steal your $1m?
> Alternatively, buy bitcoin through your bank. Use it to buy monero on an exchange.
Difficult to do this anonymously.
Using cash then localmoneros or bisq would be fine.
"Indicative of possible criminal conduct" means more than just "looking like a criminal." That means, if you were to be arrested for something, your use of Monero might count as evidence that you were involved in criminal activity. Combined with enough other circumstantial evidence, it might even contribute to your conviction, even without a smoking gun. This would depend on the judge and jury, but it's worth noting.
I don't think it's "better" for people to ignore the risks of certain behaviors and pretend those risks don't exist. You apparently care a lot about optimizing a particular dimension: privacy. Recognize that other people have different mixes of priorities. Not everyone must agree with yours. Some people who disagree with you might even comment on this very site, as offensive as that is.