It absolutely is. Most people I know don't have any, and very few people can name merchants that accept them. That said, I do think there is growing interest in using the bitcoin protocol as a means of transaction. But as the article states, this means only holding btc for a very short time. And yet, I still suspect bitcoin has just begun to run its course. It is an apple, and we only have oranges to compare it to.
The fundamental problem with BTC as an investment strategy is that its existence is contrary to central banks. Usage of it is quasi-legal at best. That makes it an extremely risky investment strategy and a target of radical speculation. The graphs illustrate something I've suspected - it's under the influence of the penny stock diversifiers, who are getting some to have some.