OK, as far as speculation goes, let me start with the most simple question for potential discussion: What gives MSC it's inherent value? Or, putting it more bluntly, "why should I believe this protocol will raise in value"?
Say Mastercoin didn't exist for a moment. Please consider: What might the value be to a market may be if there was a money protocol that would allow a trustless, distributed way of creating contracts, betting, distributed exchange, smart property signatures, etc.? No middle man, no associated costs with such a middleman, no associated trust necessary of a middleman. This would be like what bitcoin has accomplished, but just at a higher functioning higher capability level*
*Assuming the logic for all the features are sound.
Yes and to separate mastercoin the currency from mastercoin the protocol, the currency will have value as it will act as the gold standard for all of these economic transactions the protocol allows for. It will have value as it will be required for collateral.
This is completely analogous to bitcoin the currency having value as it is required to avail of the things the bitcoin protocol allows one to do.