The only way that Ethereum could be in the place that Bitcoin occupies is if Ethereum had appeared before Bitcoin. Ethereum was the first to add smart contracts and new features, but it wasn't the first in the world. Every pioneering coin in its segment (Monero in privacy, Dash in masternodes) continues to have a privileged place, but we must not be mistaken, there are also some coins in privileged places that do not deserve it.