I read that in order to start using bitcoin you have to download and ‘initialize’ your setup which includes data on every transaction that ever occurrred
This is an incredibly bad software idea (and I write software for a living)
Depends what wallet software you use. Some do use a local copy of the blockchain. I (right now) use Electrum, does not.
has anyone here tried ‘mining’ for bitcoins?
What’s up with that?
I have about 10 old computers at home I could dedicate full-time to that, if it actually generates money