As long as human beings and their associated domesticated animals have to eat something besides electrons and photons to survive, we will be tied to the physical. The Internet dreams that have survived are those that deliver something very real and will eventually make a profit, or provide consistently excellent service and will eventually make a profit, or were never begun with any intention of profitability at all. In the latter category are personal homepages, blogs, websites with a cause, and quirky little ventures like Nervous Industries. On eBay, people trade stuff for cash. That is pretty old economy when you think about it.
Blogs let people trade ideas for audience, an old-style gift economy.
We exist, we are real, we can reach out beyond the electron exchange and land on your porch. Of course, some of these little trinkets may one day be recognized for their extrinsic value, the early design experiments of several great artists in the Internet avant garde. Until then, we swap, perchance to dream. For months, since moving back to my hometown, I had intended to look up my favorite librarian, Mrs. Miller with the voice of golden coins. Every word, of every story she ever read to us, held the promise of treasure.