Actually, altcoins always grow faster than Bitcoin, but they also fall faster than the first currency. What is more, the bigger market cap is, the harder it is to raise the price, so it is harder to pump bitcoin than low market cap altcoins.
Ethereum holders want it to overtake Bitcoin as this way they will get additional profit.
I consider that Ethereum deserves it as defi-projects on it give a real utility to the crypto industry and businesses.