$1k for Eth could be possible before the year ends. The real question is, does cryptokitties really helping the development of the Eth blockchain? Because as what many have experienced, theres a slow moving transactions and it seems like you need to put more gas to move your transaction a little bit. I know that the game is a hit causing a ton of transactions making the network clogged, delayed transactions, and a pile of unprocessed transactions.
In my opinion I would gladly say that its possible to happen now, because lots of transactions nowadays with eth was been started to develop its good impact to the community. And those transactions that will be used to gas up more eth might made this currency to pump up even higher as it will gain the highest demand that people always aimed for sustainable income. Somehow we still need to be patience at all time before we reach the end of December 2017.