That still a prediction and I guess that there is no one will know the truth. Ethereum could still increase in this year because of ethereum still a strong project and continue. I believe that the price will increase and you only need to wait for the time to see it will rise again. Maybe you need to wait for a long time, but for me, I don't mind to wait for a long time because I am sure that ethereum can be back to the higher price and we are on the way to break the higher price.
A speculation is still a speculation it is based on opinion by one trader or more. I believe that the price of each coin will go up in the future. That's why I'm telling that .01 BTC could worth a lot in the future. So as Eth, if that kind of BTC is so high in the future what more could Eth give?
I think Ian McLeod Ethereum Price Prediction 2019 of $500 is more realistic if we are to based on how the price move, second quarter is coming and the price is still moving slowly even though the hard fork is already over, there's still big news for Ethereum that will make the price go higher than $500.
Probably $500 is the realistic price or target this year.