Bitcoin was indeed initially created for payments. However, due to the complexity of its use in the early days, Bitcoin was only used by people who were highly skilled in technology, usually for underground transactions. But as the world evolved, even before Bitcoin was adopted as a means of payment in several countries with high inflation, it had already achieved many milestones. One of them is becoming an investment asset that has benefited many people. Those who saw its huge potential would not be wrong to say, “I will be rich if I invest in Bitcoin,” especially if that was before 2017. Bitcoin is currently the most successful cryptocurrency and already has a strong foundation to be used as a payment method.
True. The only thing is that Bitcoin is slowly getting dominated by VCs, and institutional investors alike. Sure, the core Blockchain network is decentralized. But if these powerful entities accumulate most of the circulating supply, how will we be able to buy/sell in a private manner? The plan has always been to concentrate the supply of BTC among a few, to force the average person to comply with KYC/AML. That would make Bitcoin semi-decentralized. I wouldn't say we're breaking free from government control under such scenario. More like being sucked into utter slavery. But I could be wrong.
For now, Monero remains the only crypto with true privacy and freedom. Bitcoin will be the digital "store of value", will Monero will serve as digital cash for the masses. Hopefully, decentralization reigns supreme in the future. Just my two sats.