That is my understanding, too. And CfB said something similar also, I think (coins for currency, NXT for value)
NXT itself is backed by power to influence on the whole system. If u own 1M NXT then u'll forge each 1000th block. And u can charge fiat money for inclusion transactions into blocks.
I'd like to add that this "power" is very valuable. If u forge the next block u decide what orders to include into it. And this decision will change the market.