XRP can never replace Bitcoin. There is not even any comparability between them. Although XRP has a certain number of users, it is not enough to compare!
Yes, ripple is just another corporate company, it is not a coin.
Why people mistake xrp and ripple I have no idea. Normally they have no connection other than company making some cash for themselves whenever they want.
There is absolutely no correlation between the two because when the company gets a deal or signs a contract with some big company the price of xrp goes up as well but there is no need. They are not going to buy their coin back from you just because they made money, or they are not going to give you dividends on the profits they made.
This is not stock or share of a company, it is just a way for them to sell and profit whenever they are short on cash. I do not know why ripple has been going on this long and I really hope it will soon finish because it is literally looking they it might be a scam for you and very dangerous.