Bitcoin will be the first next big thing ~ Alt coins , Is there a need for them?
A good question but if you have used bitcoin lately you will see there is a great need as of now.
Many see btc being the gold - the storage of wealth on the block chain and not really of use to buy a coffee or even a coffee and a bun together.
Honing block chain for specific use cases is where alts come in.
For example dentralised trustless exchanges of both CC and physical goods are where bitbay, blocknet and others come in.
DAG with byteball promises great scaling potential
Others are for other specific uses although not essential to complete the trustless decentralised evironment we are pursuing but still important to the people that support those communitys and specific use cases.
That's my opinion others have their own.
I mean these things may all eventually be achievable with btc and mods/additions but it could be years if ever.
What makes BTC worth more? its security (is it more secure really though with some pools able to 51% if they really wanted to) or its fame and adoption and just general belief it it. Maybe btc will one day be the ALT.
But i agree that days seems a long way off whilst BTC is the base currency in exchanges and so well adopted.
Maybe others can give you a better answer