Before even that people knew Bitcoin as that thing that only terrorists and criminals use. Telling people you used Bitcoin was akin to admitting to heinous acts to the average person.

Grassroots is how we got this far, and the grassroots are how we continue. Don't worry about the average person. Worry about your family and if not them, your community, and if not then move until you find a community that needs Bitcoin. You don't have to convince people who need it, they already get it.