Absolutely no one doesn't seem to give a shit about NEM.
Why on earth is it worth 1 billion?
Because it's being pumped like everything else.
However you might be wrong about shits being given. The difference is that almost all shits are taking place in Asia, not the West. They have fiat trading pairs, are building business relationships and most of the community action happens there too.
If you're English speaking only you'd be right to consider it a relative obscurity.