NXT has no real world applications for the average user
That is nothing that cannot change from one moment to another. In my opinion, NXT is simply in a little depression, like Bitcoin in 2014.
NXT is not only "financial tools" and "asset exchange". There is also the Marketplace, the first working decentralized marketplace for non-financial goods and services (or payment processor, like you want) of all cryptocurrencies. There is Coin Shuffling.
Also the "monetary system" is not a bad idea. It can be used for games or by businesses. Sure, the NXT transaction fee is a big flaw. That's why Nxt 2.0 is being developed.
Regarding "real world shops", there is really a deficit, but that can change. NXT is still integrated into the CoinPayments payment processor which makes adoption very easy.
(And no, I'm not a NXT millionaire
)