Ripple uses XRP (“Ripples”) in their xRapid product, but not in xCurrent. I believe xCurrent is more widely used right now, but Ripple claims xRapid is cheaper. Saying Ripple doesn't use Ripples is incorrect.

I think the only reasonable conclusion to have about blockchain is we have no clue where this technology is heading. It is pretty useless right now but that’s where all important tech starts. Early cars were noisy, failure-prone novelties; early planes were deathtraps; I doubt I need to say anything about early personal computers. I agree that trust is enormously valuable and I think you make some good points there, but abandoning blockchain now would be absurdly premature.