The scene was different back then. Now there are a lot more altcoins fighting for relevancy today. So there's a big chance via will not become relevant. I mean Dogecoin, which is considered a 'joke' currency, is in a better position to become relevant than most altcoins due to its social following.
I can agree that it was different, but it has something in common. If you look closely, coins which are fighting for relevancy today are pretty much the same (as numbers). I'm not saying that VIA will be relevant.. I'm saying that people will eventually learn their lesson and that lesson is to stop giving value to s*itcoins. At the end... some of the coins which are fighting for relevancy will succeed, but in the mean time a lot more people will be distracted from cryptocurrencies.
EDIT: Doge is dying.. no question about it.