since the fees on BTC remain high and throughput capped, this is how BTC will collapse on its own. the tx count must increase to sustain the miners operations or the chain dies
using as a middleman definitely can and will. the BCH stress test was a great example. the tx count was around 600k and the price rose 20%. not a coincidence.
You are wrong. The price will only move up if there is a buyer willing to pay a higher price. Maybe some were buying to run the stress test. ST coins may not be sold back into market.
I agree with your 2nd sentence. the idea is that you buy and use as medium of exchange and never sell back to fiat. people late must pay higher price, but are buying into the system