Subordinate chains (sidechains in this instance) have fixed the scaling problems and improved a lot of other weaknesses in the process.  Simplistic blocksize increases would have ensured subversion and eventual destruction of Bitcoin so the development and acceptance of sidechain, at least as a proof-of-concept, has renewed a dormant sense of confidence in Bitcoin in my mind.  By the looks of the charts I'm not alone.

If we follow the patterns of earlier years, I would anticipate a rather long period of time when the price increases slowly (in Bitcoin terms) followed by a spike.  The long steady increase ensures that people who are trying to jump in and out are separated from their BTC.  If this was an accident of a design I've never known with any certainty.