LTC is much faster than BTC so I don't see how that is only usable as an investment.
Unlike BTC, there are not that many places that accept LTC, (and, to be fair, even BTC is not that widely accepted either, but it is a lot more accepted than LTC).
So LTC, for now, only looks like an investment for trading on the exchanges.
Anyways, BTC mining isn't dead and won't be in the foreseeable future. Find a pool and its easy.
I agree, it is just a lot harder to mine. You have to mine for weeks before you have enough to use them on something substantial.
FFMG