Yes in certain places you can buy coffee, for example in Tokyo (although that's Bitcoin Cash, not Bitcoin).
Other places include buying domains, email, hosting or VPNs while preserving your privacy. Or buy computer equipment from Webhallen or Inet, two of Sweden's largest computer stores. Or buy games, porn or similar.
> but then seems to misunderstand the most fundamental property - acceptability
No, the properties don't change depending on how many use it. That's the functions of money, which you're right cryptocurrencied don't fair well in.
For example gold was once an excellent medium of exchange, but it's not anymore as people has stopped accepting it for payments.
Even if something is technically better, you don't replace the money quickly. The point is the potential, not that we're there today.
> explain the value proposition of bitcoin without eventually it just boiling down to "well the value is going up so I'm hodling"
The whole book is based on this premise and that cryptocurrencies are a better currency, and the volatility of Bitcoin is one of the biggest drawbacks. (Besides the ridiculous fees and the lack of privacy.)
To simplify the value proposition is mainly twofold:
* As a better means of payment as it's cheaper, faster and uncensorable.
* As a form of money where nobody can manipulate the supply.
The first article linked claims it has "better monetary properties than anything else in history" but then seems to misunderstand the most fundamental property - acceptability. This is actually "Do other people accept it as payment" rather than "could people theoretically accept it as payment". Fingernails do not pass this test, because even though people could accept them as payment, they don't. I can't pay for my coffee with Bitcoin without needing a secondary level of trade with some intermediate party to turn it into dollars/pounds, so I would say acceptability is in fact poor.
Like are you arguing that it is a currency, or some sort of 'store of value'? Do we at least agree that Bitcoin is a bad currency? If so what is bitcoin supposed to be?
I have never found anyone able to clearly explain the value proposition of bitcoin without eventually it just boiling down to "well the value is going up so I'm hodling"