From what I've read, Bitcoin now charges high transaction fee and long transaction wait time so it can't presently be used:
a) for a conversion from Bitcoin to cash?
or b) purchases using Bitcoin?

Definitely Bitcoin is still not the best coin to make small payments or transfer funds to someone. In my opinion, the best application at this stage for Bitcoin is to use it as a purely investment asset. Let's leave aside the fact that very few people accept Bitcoin as a means of payment.