I dont know if compitition would be the right idea. If the value of an smt on steem would rise that would help the steem network, not just the smt itself.
Hypothetically Steemit could fail and the steem network would be just fine. Appics is just one of the smt's i was talking about. There will be many more tokens to come, which will make this platform very strong.
You are right,

A successful platform does not necessarily mean a high price

But since this platform will host so many other good smt's/tokens that means it will have a lot of value. And since its (micro) transactions are so incredibly fast and basically free, it will attract other companies to build on this networt, that's what will bring the real value to steem.
People dont realize how important speed is when dealing with cryptos, i personally even hate waiting for even litecoin transfers cuz they are so damn slow, and screw bitcoin it gives me anxiety waiting on that transfer plus the fees are ridiculous!
We cant have cryptos as the future with lagging transfers and huge fees.. speed and (basically) no fees will win in the end.
But thats my thoughts on it, and my opinion is worth what u paid for it ;) Lol..

@fknmayhem or someone correct me if im wrong on how i explained this