Come on, you lack imagination. Do you really not see that a simple change of units would solve the pb? It is a mere convention change, not even a technical change! Call 0.001 bitcoin 1 millibitcoin, or 1 mBTC, or 1 "new bitcoin". Done! They do this all the time in countries with inflation/deflation.
Your ancestors did just fine with salaries of a few dollars a year, once upon a time.
It's just a terminology problem because people aren't used to "bitcents" or "mBTC" yet.
I have a hard time imaging my parents working with fractions just to buy a coffee.