Ultimately, I think Ripple is not and should not be called a cryptocurrency. It is trying to fill a different niche. It is an interbank payment protocol that is compatible with cryptocurrency. It has a place, and the reason behind its growth is due to its network with banks, particularly in Japan. Fiat can more easily flow into Ripple than other cryptocurrencies, due to its bank integration. I only hold a small amount of ripple as I don't believe that it is a viable network to store wealth, due to its massive uncirculated supply, and arbitrary distribution mechanism. It is not intended to compete with decentralized cryptocurrencies, it is basically a fiat currency owned by Ripple that uses cryptographic payment methods, but not much else.