This debate will never finish unless markets grow up and mature. Bitcoin is what we decide it to be, and tbat can only happen with time. To me, it does represent a refuge from the soon-to-be crashing financial system. Whether others do or do not believe the same is up to their own.
Give it time, God damn it. It'll show its true form within years, possibly decades. Today we aren't even sure if it's going to be legally accepted everywhere within a matter of years or other countries will start banning it. We don't even have the legal framework in some countries to begin with. It just needs time.
Well the truth is there is no debate. Bitcoin is both an asset as well as used as a financial hedge. In terms of finance/ or the financial world anyhow. I guess you could debate this if your own definition is different that what an asset or a financial hedge are considered by the financial world ( what I mean is, if you look up the definition of both on investopedia or any other financial outlets of the same ilk, the definition for both fits bitcoins current state).