you don't need XRP for Ripple technology
Such statements make me tired....
For each privat ledger, you don't need XRP. Yes.
But to connect all these privat ledgers provided by several banks, stocks, services, you need the inter-ledger. And for that you need XRP.
Really so difficult to understand?
You need the most minuscule amounts of XRP only, a small enough amount that it will never have much affect on the price of XRP by itself. The price is still purely speculative. If you want to disprove me on this name me one bank or other financial institution that holds more than 1M$ worth for XRP.
You can't because they don't exist.