I agree with your first answer. But not the second. Altcoins are an amazing testing ground that help cryptocurrency adoption, innovation, and expansion. This is especially true when "strange attractors" are added into "the mix".
I mean: how many people recently came to crypto through the 'ridiculous' Dogecoin idea? What of the recent national cryptocoin (Auracoin, Spaicoin...) wave? And what about Vertcoin, Namecoin, Devcoin? These were once all thought experiments with "strange attractors". They now exist, and are bringing a LOT of interest and experience to cryptocurrency.
I mean: how many people recently came to crypto through the 'ridiculous' Dogecoin idea? What of the recent national cryptocoin (Auracoin, Spaicoin...) wave? And what about Vertcoin, Namecoin, Devcoin? These were once all thought experiments with "strange attractors". They now exist, and are bringing a LOT of interest and experience to cryptocurrency.