If two persons use it in a transaction then it is money whichever form it assumes, whatever judges or other "authority" declare. Money is not legal or official, it's the people's natural medium; they took it from us and made it their tool of oppression with fiat money. To understand this is essential.
In earlier/ancient times TRADE was done by personally exchanging natural goods (one-on-one) such as furs, cups and foods etc. MONEY came about and just got in the way because someone/some groups seen it as a way to convince that trades of goods could use hard METALS to increase more of the bartering in a way that eventually now we are all stuck with. (my speculation)
If trends continue in certain countries we are going to be able to experientially investigate your statement for validity - barter returns. While I agree with you, my assertion is that fully mobile and accessible bitcoin access functions as money (providing the simplicity of fiat for those invested in the system). Hardware wallets, properly employed, are extremely safe. Unlike fiat, bitcoins are outside any one gov's control. Its the lack of control that concerns "powers" that be. The net is also litter'd with accounts of folks getting their coins taken. They didn't first learn how to easily protect themselves before walking in the "den of danger" with coins wide open! Its a safe world with knowledge, but a cruel one for the naive.
