The only way Ripple can be that is if RippleLabs and the big stakeholders burn their share. One of the co-founders who owns 10% has publicly stated he is not interested in doing so and has left so there is nothing Ripple can do.
Its a brilliant piece of tech, if only they were less greedy they could have been a huge success story and be the number one.
They have it "manipulated" once they release more from the bag, the price will just keep booming. It has gone from 120 million to almost 800 million in a heartbeat.. Plus, like you said it is a smart piece of tech, if they weren't holding it like the feds. LOL. I give props to them tho for making it! The people already holding are going to be in for a good junk of $$. The late comers will just have to do the best to catch up at this point.. It will pass BTC by mid April, if BTC keeps dropping.. They both aren't too far away in specs and what they bring to the table.