The betting functionality in Counterparty is the only price driver behind XCP besides the very minimal 0.5 XCP, which is insignificant with regards to the price.
XCP is also the easiest way to trade assets and avoid btcpay. Maybe less significant but it's also the cheaper way to distribute dividends.
I don't see major adoption of the DEx happening until the betting functionality is widely used.
Issuing distributions in XCP will not happen for quite a while because BTC is the preferred currency and I don't see that changing anytime soon, if ever.
Counterparty and XCP will see increased use and adoption due to the betting functionality and everything else will be a distant second.
(This is just my opinion)