Option A: buy HD, download Bitcoin from genesis: ETA: days.
Option B: buy preloaded HD, download latest blocks: ETA: minutes to hours.
Option C: have HD, download Bitcoin from verified snapshot: ETA: minutes to hours.
Discussion
You've obviously never lived in a third world country. Where do you buy the preloaded hard drive from? How does it get delivered? I once got a birthday card the following Christmas, more than 18 months after it was sent. Also, there is the additional cost...
And before you say, oh but that was an exception: you're right it was, in that it actually turned up, and wasn't lost to the ether or held to ransom by customs officials demanding ridiculous fees like most FedEx UPS etc packages are.
Not only have I loads of experience being in 3rd world countries, I fail to see your point as all you need is a HD with enough space which will be ubiquitous.
If your bandwidth allotment is subpar or allowance to little you download from the snapshot.
LOL. Whatever you reckon. You've obviously got no idea, or have no interest in having full nodes.
