If not for the reputation that Bitcoin has built over the years as a store of value, memecoins scams would have dragged crypto reputation into the mud. Memecoins are no different from Ponzi schemes, left for then alone cryptocurrency would have collapsed. But thanks to Bitcoin reputable, the name cryptocurrency still holds value.
Yes bitcoin is indirectly the reason why altcoins are surviving in the market. People look at how bitcoin price went from $0 to $100k over the last 10 years plus and they want the same result by investing in shitcoins. It’s ridiculous but it’s the truth. Shitcoins are still popular because of human greed, people just want to get rich overnight.
Shitcoins will continue to saturate the market and inexperienced investors will continue to fall victims as long as Bitcoin adoption and value is still increasing, they will think that the get rich quick schemes are as reputable as Bitcoin. Proper crypto knowledge is important for anybody that wants to enter the crypto market, if they don't understand the difference between Bitcoin and altcoins they will be carried away by memecoins hype. Without any experience on how to research projects they will unintentionally gamble their funds and most likely lose everything. Invest the amount that you can afford to buy Bitcoin and if you must buy altcoins let it be with amount that you can afford to loose.