I really don't think alt coins are hurting Bitcoin in any way. They are just stirring up interest and activity and energy..... all the more..... around bitcoin. Because, after all, they are called "alt" coins for a reason. They are an *alternative* to the king of them all, bitcoin. And no matter how much huff and puff and braggery one might get..... it's all out of a thinly veiled devotion to, and respect for, bitcoin.

Also, I don't see them as taking good talent away from Bitcoin either. The talent pool is growing exponentially each month.... so it's new faces that are spinning their wheels with alt coins.... But make no mistake about it, they are *training* wheels. Training wheels for future development that will matter. Probably for bitcoin.

So, like with publicity.... even bad publicity is good publicity. Even work and energy around alt coins is good for bitcoin, in reality.