Good point. I trust Amazon enough to complete a purchase with Bitcoin. I think the term escrow would be too confusing for most customers but that'll probably work out as the platform develops.
I meant "escrow-like" in the sense that PayPal and credit cards (with their evil chargebacks!) are escrow-like: you don't use the term, you just know that you have recourse if you're stiffed and that the payments are reversible.
The difference is that you don't have to be as big (or as versed in financial regulation) to provide such a service: if you're trusted among the gambling community, you can provide "PayPal with Bitcoins" for them, because they trust you. If you're trusted among arts and crafts dealers and their customers, you can be the trusted party that enables chargebacks on Bitcoin in that area. Etc.
It's going to be exciting to see how these escrow-like services develop over the next few years. Specifically because, as you mentioned, you don't have to deal with a lot of regulation that comes a traditional product.
I wonder if companies like Strip/PayPal/Visa will try and lead the way or if they'll wait and be the acquirers.
