I'm probably just going to play with friends anyway, so I'm not too worried about it. And if it gets too rough, I'll just play some on my own...

No doubt we could just create a Giantbomb thread for trades, and people can offer up weapons, and those that need them bid, if someone robs the other, they can post, and no one else deal with that trader.
 
Simple enough, there's enough people on here, who are probably willing for that to work.

I probably would spend the vast majority of the time playing it solo.  For example, I have essentially the most powerful guy I could possibly get in Too Human (with how he's customized), and 140-ish hours spent on that one dude.  I spent the vast majority of my time with that character in a completely offline setting.  To me, this type of game is fantastic for relaxation.  The gameplay itself has to be at least somewhat solid, but most of the fun comes from wondering what you'll pick up next.  99.9% of the time, the loot will be pretty useless.  However, that .1% is what makes the game worth playing.  There's also the added bonus of there being a distinct possibility of me finding a gun that no one else will ever have.  There's no way in hell I won't buy this game on day 1, trading or no trading..

It sucks but it isnt enough to turn me away from it. I primarily play single player but when I don't it isn't with strangers either so I don't have a problem.

this is why i'm playing with real friends and not randoms. i will more than likely just play alone most of the time.

Give it a week of gamers moaning at Gearbox about it after launch and they'll patch it soon enough.

The last count on the weapons was above 17 million...I think if it came down to it that you have no friends online to play with that it wouldnt be all that big of a deal to find something better.

Play with your friends.

Yep, I've officially lost interest in playing Borderlands
 
 
 
...with people who I don't know.  Seriously, how many of you who feel this is a huge deal ever play other co-op shooters with random strangers?  Do you really play Halo 3, or Gears 2 or Saints Row 2 co-op with random people on xbox live?  I agree it would be nice to have a trade feature in the game, but to completely skip Borderlands because it doesn't include that feature?  Really?

" Yep, I've officially lost interest in playing Borderlands    ...with people who I don't know.  Seriously, how many of you who feel this is a huge deal ever play other co-op shooters with random strangers?  Do you really play Halo 3, or Gears 2 or Saints Row 2 co-op with random people on xbox live?  I agree it would be nice to have a trade feature in the game, but to completely skip Borderlands because it doesn't include that feature?  Really? "

I guess it is pretty crazy but for whatever reason, I think they did it this way on purpose. This game has been in development for a long time and most of the websites and magazines that talk about having played it make it sound good. Maybe the game works in some way that we're not familiar with and not having a trade system isn't that bad? In any case, I don't think this is a reason to not get the game, and this is coming from someone who doesn't even want it. 

I was really exited for this game till I saw video of it 
after seeing the game in action I think it looks awful

Your kidding me dude!  One you know they will patch it and prob for free! Next the game is just freakin good dude and the trade won't get me as there is already soooo much loot! Third dude play online with friends or build up a friendship with peeps you trust! Such a sorry excuse to not play a good game! It is like saying I am only going to play to trade loot and that is it

" There's a bajillion guns, why would you want to trade it when you will probably get something better in the next 10 minutes? "

" Sorry, but with Brad's news post today about the trading system basically being nonexistant, I've lost any and all interest in playing this game. This is Phantasy Star Online with first person shooting, as far as the loot is handled. A boss dies, and everybody will immediately spam the corpse pressing X or whatever to grab any and all loot he drops. Someone is in the corner smashing boxes and taking loot while everyone else fights and dies. Trading is practically impossible without getting scammed or trolled.  Seriously, a game built around piles and piles of loot, and you completely neglected to think about how these issues affect the player experience? I'm gone. For all they talked about their influences, they apparently failed to learn some critical lessons. "

Another thing to note - if there are people out there who sit in the corner and smash boxes while you do all the work, they won't become proficient with their guns while you will.

Like others have said, PLAY WITH YOUR FRIENDS.  Talk some friends into getting the game and run through Pandora with them.  It's been one of the best co-op experiences I've had in a long time.  Since L4D probably.