In the same vein it is natural to assume that the death of the altcoin world would eventually do only good to Bitcoin in the long run as people won't be losing money anymore. So what d'ya think?
First of all: Define what Bitcoin is for you - just a ticker ? A special protocol impl or the bigger idea (that started 2008 - without any tickers)?
It is definitely a bigger idea
I'm paid with bitcoins for doing online jobs (like translations or whatever), and without Bitcoin this wouldn't be possible. It is not only that of course as there are other applications beyond being "just a ticker" (by which you seem to refer to speculation, I guess), but that's what instantly comes to mind when asked such a question. So I looks like I defined what Bitcoin is for me (it is not just a ticker), and what comes next?
Yes, Bitcoin is the middle men disruptor, the new internet protocol for value (precious information) transfer, it brings a sheer immutable time / data timestamped ledger - secured by PoW.
If all meaningful electronic applications can make use of such a single system- cheap, borderless, open-including, scalable, ... , than no other system / coin / alt ... is ever needed
This is what Bitcoin aims for, not really caring about speculation or tickers