No, not at all.
Let me try again:
XRP is not an IOU
.with Ripple, instead of your IOU's being trapped and controlled by a central entity, you can move them freely
In Ripple, an IOU is not a means by which you can buy something now, and pay later. It's a representation of actual assets you own. When you exchange those IOU's, the asset balance is transferred to the new owner. The IOU simply determines who now owns that balance.
Sounds like it involves IOUs to me.
Ripple does involve IOU's and that's a good thing. XRP, however, is not an IOU. It's an asset that exist within the network and stored without counter-party risk.
Why has Ripple decreased so much in Market cap? Used to be second to Bitcoin
1. Because they aren't doing jack shit.
2. Because they aren't doing jack shit in the way of marketing, publicity, news articles, etc.
-B-
Ripple is doing plenty, Ripple isn't however, a consumer product so, you're not going to get consumer focused marketing.