tl,dr

@graphic: Btc backing alts with monetary value is wrong. The dollar/euro/CNY backs alts with monetary value. People will trade alts more and more directly for fiat in the future. Bitcoin isn't as significant as it wants to be

In fact it has been observed that trading alts against bitcoin is harmful for the altmarkets because of bitcoins volatility. Any altcoin that wants to grow needs a direct fiatmarket. Bitcoin is not useful as currency to trade other coins against because it is too volatile to let an altmarket be healthy or stable.
If you want a stable and healthy altcoin: avoid trading it against bitcoin (for now)


Different more stable alternatives will take its place as basemoney. Bitcoin is  on the best way to sink into obscurity - this hardfork just speeds it up.