Well, i think you're right about Pep wanting to nurse him a bit. In a recent interview Pep said that he thinks he's not been giving Bojan enough time, and he's sorry for Bojan. Which made me feel quite confident because it shows that he values Bojan, and he's consciously holding him back. This might be a good idea, because although he's been with the team for long, he is only 19 after all, and if Bojan is to develop into a striker, a central striker, then he still has many many years ahead of him.
Also, it might be a good idea to shelter him from an excessive exposure to competition so that he won't burn out.
However, holding a player back too much I think is not a great idea...
...Unless the player himself says he wants to stay, and that he doesn't want to go out on loan.
If someone doesn't want to go out on loan it means that they're happy with their situation, want to fight for a place, and aren't being left to rot. Indeed, Bojan isn't being left to rot because he is on the bench every match, which means that he gets to soak in the atmosphere, he can keep being dipped in and out into the team until the time comes when he no longer feels butterflies when stepping onto the pitch.
If this happens, then he will be ready. As a striker you need to have composure and calmness. Having butterflies won't help. Remember, Bojan isn't inactive, he still participates in training and Spanish youth team matches. He still plays in barca's friendlies, the occasional Catalunya match. He still is being mentored especially in training by Henry and Pep. So by all means Bojan is developing, just not on the pitch. He is still working in the gym to become stronger, and in training to stay fit.
So. If Bojan is happy with his situation, refuses to go out on loan and refuses to be sold, if Pep is aware of his potential and his talents, and if Bojan develops the mental strength and experience on the big stage, then it might be possible to insert him into the first team in a couple of years time as an experienced individual.
He won't be like Muniesa who made a big mistake on his debut because he was a bit too raw. That isn't to say that Muniesa won't make it, but it also set him back a bit, certainly emotionally. He won't be like Balotelli, who plays an important role but acts like a cock about it. He'll be modest. And he won't be like Pato, who is physically exhausted and might crack from the pressure and burn out because he is overplayed at Milan...
I think that Bojan should only be allowed to be loaned out if he is going to be given a proper loan treatment. Not the typical Barca Marc Crosas-type loan that will turn into a permanent transfer away from the club. I think (hope) that a lot of work is going on behind the scenes with Bojan. And if it really is, then I am content to have it that way for a bit, and have him play the occasional match, and be inserted into the team as a mature player. The reason Pedro's being given so much exposure (and even he sits the bench a lot) is because he's that much older than Bojan, he's reached that ideal age for insertion. If Bojan is put into the team as a full-time first team member at the age of 21/22, after having had a lot more time than Pedro to integrate, then you can only image how explosively good he will be.
Remember, many forwards only rise to prominence in their mid 20s. You could argue that Torres' heap of injuries is a result of overexposure as well, and perhaps Pep wants to avoid this happening to Bojan.
