I agree with your assessment, unfortunately. Bitcoin came into popularity as an asset with explosive gains in value, so the general public views it as such. Think about it: Bitcoin is a currency (or should be, at least) and is meant to be spent, but it's more associated with HODLing and Lambos than decentralization and payment systems.

I think the bottom line is that people don't find any real utility in Bitcoin in its current iteration. It definitely has niche cases like cross-border money transfers where it's hard to top, but that's too obscure a use-case for most people to actively start using it. Few people also see little use for decentralization, because most of the population who can take risks are not under a failing economy. While the current financial systems do have a lot of flaws, most seem to be rather satisfied with them.

But yeah, if Bitcoin technology advances far enough that it's just as easy, if not as easy, as swiping a credit card, people will start taking its utility seriously. That's my two satoshis on the matter at least.