Using cash via localbitcoins is easy in any reasonably populated area. You pay maybe 3-5% premiums over market price to buy from a professional high-availability seller. You can buy at or below market price if you're not in a rush.
I was going to do this but there is only one local seller and he had a huge markup.
You can trade using online banking on localbitcoins, you don't actually need to be local. In fact I've done over 70 trades on localbitcoins, and never met in person for any one of them.
How on earth do you verify security for that?
What do you mean? The BTC goes into escrow with Localbitcoins, then the buyer sends the money to the seller's bank account, and then the seller releases the BTC from escrow.
oh wow, I didn't realize that at all. I might do this, I appreciate the advice.
Because business deals in parking lots are famous for working out well.