Earlier quoted context omitted.
The lightning network could fix everything, or fail spectacularly. I think an even bigger danger than failing spectacularly is if they take too long to roll it out. Other cryptocurrencies are already gaining some favor because of the situation BTC is in now with the high transaction fees. It has a good chance of working, in my opinion (the lightning network), if they don't dawdle too long. But the clock is ticking.
IMO Lightning network solves a non-problem. It only sets up a transactionless channel between two parties. The whole promise of Bitcoin was secure transfer to anyone. Maintaining a balance between two parties is trivial and solved thousands of years ago. The whole reason we have currency is to allow transactions between people that don't trust each other, so I don't think Lightning network will do anything significan…
Lighting network is also distributed, you don't need a direct channel between you and another party to pay them. You just have to find a route.