They don't understand that Bitcoin was intended more as a cash system—and less as a store of value.

Exactly! Been here 3 years and every time I meet long time bitcoiners at events here (and around the world) that don't use LN I'm very saddened. Some very famous names included. It's weird, I pay my bills in LN even but somehow the 'nobody uses it' meme lives on. (P.S. I don't call myself a maxima...

Agreed! I can understand they don't want to sell any coin. But why not take part of their travel budget, go to an Bitcoin ATM, and load their lightning wallet to pay for things while they are there.

I am a bitcoiner. Though I don't travel to El Salvador. I think lightening is a bad solution and an unnecessary admission that Bitcoin doesn't scale.