Historically US bonds have been one of the hardest things to actually lose; as they will go through painful amounts of attempts to salvage them (via purchase history, reconstructing burnt physical bonds, reissuing, etc).
I bought them, and everyone I know bought them. So for what it's worth, you'll at least be in good company. It won't be some forgotten bin of a handful of people with no recourse.
It also maxes at $10k a year, so you're not likely to be bankrupting yourself.
Same. For the potential upsides ($10,000 x 9% is $900, and that assumes I will keep it in cash otherwise), the downside risk is too great. If I could just click a button in my brokerage account and buy them, I would.
I smell a business opportunity
As in taking my 10k and buying the bond in my name and returning my money at maturity? If it's legal, this is exactly the business brokers are already in. Presumably it's illegal (there are lots of restrictions on I Bond purchases) or it's not worth their time since rarely is there retail interest in these bonds.
What is the downside risk of a US Bond? The website is bad?
Yes, you the order form can hiccup and you will be out the 10k (for a matter of months until Treasury sorts it out) but still have no bond. There have been several instances of people reporting this, and presumably many more privately. My free time is worth too much use it picking up pennies in front of a steamroller.