A good comment thread here...
When I got into Steemit, I was 100% a cryptocurrency virgin: I knew nothing about blockchain technology. I still have a ton to learn, but anecdotally, I've observed how confused my friends are when conversations about this arise at the pub. It's come a long way, but there is a long way to go.
Yeah, I was definitely the sender in my example above. I was just trying to sound like I had done it before. I've made a few sends, but I'm not an expert. It's still a "big deal" whenever I need to make a transaction. Haven't had a send go into the abyss yet!
My family still has no clue what I'm talking about. If I mention crypto currency to them, their eyes kinda glaze over and they get that far-off look. OR they start telling me that it's all a scam and I'm involved in some kind of cult! Ha ha.
I think people are mostly scared of what they don't understand and because crypto is still relatively new the information out there is more hype than substance. Even techy people I respect can't see the applications. It's frustrating, but I believe a user-friendly interface with an emphasis on security will go a long way to alleviate concerns for people who haven't bought in.