I think it is best for NXT to have multiple purposes.
1 - As a store of value because of it's scarcity.
2 - As an intermediate currency between IOUs issued on the asset exchange.
I agree (and had always thought that was the intention).
The mistake that Ripple made was to make all the statements about Ripples just being "postage stamps" and having no real value and then suddenly hyping their value after launching and giving away "coins" (a small percentage). If they had been more honest about it in the first place people would not have been so turned off by it and so far I think Nxt has been far more honest (so no need to go and do the "reverse" of Ripple).