Referring to this post at https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1837136.msg18531448#msg18531448

I don't think they will force the noobs into litecoin or alts for transactions.
They plan to implement segwit with lightning into bitcoin so there is likelihood that these addons are for us to do noob-based transactions, while they do the same without segwit and lightning.

I don't see the long-term as bleak, materially and financially. How can life be bleak if your bitcoin is worth some millions each? You can waste any one on a sports car without bank loan.
I do see the long-term as very bleak and dark, spiritually, because the world is degenerating very rapidly.