Bitcoin is bitcoin has anything changed with it since it first really launched?

Crypto is just getting more and more recognition and new investors continue to enter.  Look at the chart of total market cap of all coins.  Back in the 2013 rise, total market cap was only ~ 14 billion, now it has basically doubled that.
http://coinmarketcap.com/charts/
 
Along with this people understand BTC has limitations and challenges and are looking for other potential coins/platforms.

Like em or not, coins that do well seem to have tangible and real 'network' connections in the business world.  BTC, ripple, NEM, factom, etc ... all have partnerships with real businesses that continue to expand.

NEM definitely gives other blockchain platforms a run for their money and its network continues to grow.

BTW NEM just passed ETC, on coinmarketcap