People are looking at the situation as saying "Bitcoin will always be big because it already won" but what isn't appreciated is that in open source, the competition never ends because there is no lock-in.
That's where our views differ.
I have no doubt Bitcoin will become really massive no matter the attitude of BTC core developpers. Network effect and infrastructure is everything, you can't beat Winklevoss and Silbert ETF, hardware wallet and 40 petahash with just useful new features. And even if that put BTC developper in a lamentable power position, it's still a good thing because if BTC is one day overcome by an altcoin, then the whole concept of digital scarity would be fuck up.
Also Open transaction will enable a lot of stuff that will add Counterparty-like feature on top of Bitcoin, no matter the amount of energy Bitcoin developper put into screwing Satoshi's vision.
It's sad but I think the truth is Counterparty have a lot more to lose than Bitcoin if there would be a schism between XCP and BTC.
Bitcoin capitalization is tiny compared to the vast potential of this industry and Winklevoss and Silbert are basically nothing in the hierarchy of the financial world. Many real sharks in the world of finance are looking for possible alternatives in decentralized solution industries and I doubt they would be willingly come in to the position where Winklevoss brother could happily dump upon their heads. Make something worthwhile and differentiate yourself enough from the army of clones, you will see how receptive other big guys are to you. Etherum is a good example.
There is very litter lock-in effect with Bitcoin compared to things like Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter etc. Users could easily move from one crypto to another if they want to. Many people idolize Bitcoin when comparing Bitcoin to Internet which imo is gravely mistaken. Bictoin protocol is not the Internet protocol, blockchain tech protocol is and Bitcoin just happens to be the first application of the protocol. Don't idolize Bitcoin and mistake it with blockchain protocol which is the essence of decentralized movement while Bitcoin is not. XCP should move on and grow where its tech can prosper the most.