I actually believe we're going to continue to see Bitcoin Trend upwards in the near future. With the addition of Bitcoin being added to Goldman Sachs, fidelity, Ameritrade & Nasdaq all these Futures Trading markets, the performance markets like you put it, I can't see it going away. I might see it being abused. But in the long run though I think Bitcoin will be seen as the store for digital wealth and other altcoins like Litecoin, Verge or Ripple are going to be seen as the coins used in transactions but that's just my opinion based on no science at all.
Great post I'm glad you shared this insight though really gives me something to think about.