This question has got me thinking of the possibility we could have been enjoying if there is nothing like the Ethereum blockchain that gave possibilities to the development of all the other chains in the crypto space today, I know one of the advantages of the ethereum blockchain is the fact that it gives room for scalability and possibilities of getting services that the Bitcoin blockchain may lack. But another setback is the adoption level since the ethereum blockchain gave birth to several cryptocurrencies it makes it hard for mainstream recognition of a single crypto coin which was the original intention of bitcoin.
I don't think we can call it a setback if Ethereum blockchain gives birth to several projects because of it's dapps. Sooner or later there will be developers that will have this kind of concepts, it's that Vitalik is the first one to form his idea and make it work. Then projects find a way to create their own. And those several crypto either survived or die, that is their lifecycle. If they are legit and solid then investors are going to support it, or not then another crappy project, and the cycle continues.