One of the properties that brought me to AVA initially was the idea of a variable emission rate. Most Crypto-Currencies have a pre-planned emission rate that is set in stone for 100+ plus years with zero flexibility.
Initially, this may sound like a great idea as the monetary policy is transparent, and users can plan around the system, knowing that it will not change. After some thought, I am now convinced that this is a bad policy.
Bitcoin, for example, has the block reward halving roughly four years. Initially starting at 50 coins per block, then 25, 12.5, and in the near future, the rewards will be reduced to 6.25 coins per block. This number chosen seemingly at random, ten years ago, with zero fail-safes, is meant to keep the system alive beyond any of our lifetimes. Doubtful.
Satoshi could have never foreseen events to come, and how his magic numbers would hold up in the long term. We are seeing the effects of this currently with the Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash halving.
Bitcoin Cash is currently going its halving nearly 31 days before Bitcoin. This will cause miners from the Bitcoin Cash chain to migrate to the Bitcoin chain in order to retain the pre-halving profits, putting the Bitcoin Cash chain at extremely high risk of being attacked.
If BCH had a variable block reward similar to AVA, this wouldn't be an issue as it could be adjusted to combat unforeseen events instead of grasping to magic numbers.
The most flexible networks will outlive and adapt. The systems "written in stone" are a single unseen event away from total failure.
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