it depends on if one sees btc/ltc/etc. as the utlimate solution of e-currency, or just another step toward something like PerfectCoin.
IMHO, litecoin has been remarkably successful compared to other coins that failed, right?

Yes, but that's not saying much. Namecoin is more successful in my opinion, depending on how success is measured (not price).
I'm all for competition I suppose, but litecoin is certainly not that. It's a gimmick fork.