So I think I'll put this off for now. After putting in a lot of work changing the system so it can handle more than just bitcoins, it would be cool to make more use of those possibilities. But at the moment I'm not sure it makes sense.
I am sure eventually someone will make a an alt-coin with a purpose. Blockchains can be used for some many normally centralized functions. Coins which exist to be an alternative to Bitcoin serve no larger purpose. Eventually someone will make a useful alt-coin and then Bitminter will be ready.