Since bitcoin network became popular, it may occasionally experience latency on transactions, but because of the associated increase of the size of the commissions, people can think about the alternative to get rid of these problems. Some supporters of cryptocurrencies recommended to use altcoins when transactional traffic reaches the maximum volume to save money on commissions and expedite the transaction processed by bitcoin miners. However, using alitcoins alternatively doesn't really make you to save money, but it can create some difficulties, which you didn't expect.
To use bitcoin together with altcoins will bring lower risks due to the possible split of bitcoin. Each cryptocurrency has its problems, which can be result of financial losses because value fall. But probability that something bad will happen in several currencies is much less. So no need to think: "to use bitcoin or altcoins" when you can use both. Yes, and in fact there is no division into bitcoin and altcoin. There are cryptocurrencies, and they are different.
it is useless until I pay them. 
