With respect, Ethereum doesn't want things, just as a blockchain doesn't want things. Ethereum can function in many ways and its users decide upon how they want to use it. Utilisation as a currency is one such use. Ethereum has a unitary value and can be traded for things just like money. When POS comes in, holders of Ethereum will be rewarded with units of value (interest) i.e. currency (money).

Money is stored up energy. So too is fuel. Ether is the crypto-fuel of the Ethereum network. It was designed to be used as money e.g. it is used to pay the members of the network for the resources they consume (mining). This payment aspect confirms that one of Ethereum's 'wanted' uses is to function as money and it was a 'wanted' design feature that it could function in such a way.

Granted, Ethereum is capable of much more, but to function as money is one of Ethereum's intended design capabilities. I know other competing cryptos would like to obscure its use as money, but Ethereum is used as money. Further, it is listed as a currency on the Crypto-Currency Market Capitalizations' website and is second only to Bitcoin in its valuation as a currency.