The name Bit Gold was already recently used for a similar project by Nick Szabo when Bitcoin was announced: https://nakamotoinstitute.org/bit-gold/

Contrary to what many people who only recently discovered Bitcoin probably believe, it was not created in a vacuum as some Ponzi scheme. Instead it was a concept that had been iterated on for decades until Satoshi discovered the right combination of cryptographic technologies and economic incentives to make a so-far-unstoppable decentralized digital currency.

Well, Satoshi was more than likely Paul Calder Le Roux who wanted a way to launder the proceeds of his crime network.

> Instead it was a concept that had been iterated on for decades until Satoshi discovered the right combination of cryptographic technologies and economic incentives to make a so-far-unstoppable decentralized digital currency.

You know how that sounds right? Like religion, not clear-headed thinking.

I expect Bitcoin to affect monetary systems in a way similar to how FOSS changed software.

My opinion is neither of those is a religion. The development of Bitcoin in particular sounds more like following the scientific method to me, but you're entitled to your own interpretation.