Your answer can be found on the first page.

- Fair distribution (call for participation) for 3000 stakeholders
- Proof of intent (distinct form proof of work and proof of stake)
- Large, skilled, development team.  Gimre and Jagaur were contributors to NxT.  The other developers had roles in other successful coins.

https://nxtforum.org/alternate-cryptocurrencies/should-i-hold-nem/