If Bitcoin is not created there will definitely be another form of digital currency because the idea of Bitcoin has been researched by some universities before Satoshi combine everything together with his own concept which is what lead to the Bitcoin we see today.
The thing is that we have alot of people independently running a race while the first to reach the final destination gets the reward and fame, Satoshi is wise enough to put his efforts into action, i don't blame him as well because he has spent alot of years developing himself on research about bitcoin.
This explains the story about Bitcoin creation but I don't think Satoshi that a huge amount of years of research about Bitcoin because some universities have already developed the concept and debated it while Satoshi digested it and added his own concept.
However, if E-gold was not shut down by the US government it could probably be the digital currency people will be using now if it's decentralized and no censorship.
That is for sure, there will be an alternative to that if bitcoin was not developed, that may not necessarily be the e-gold as mentioned, it may be another idea entirely but the fact remains that we will keep moving on with the advancement of technology as it evolves, now the meterverse is coming up, what should we expect than adoption.
You have a point because people are coming up with new concept every day, and the world especially innovative concept enthusiasts are ready to support technology that solves recent or future problems.
Having said that, Metaverse has been in existence before the NFT, P2E join the cryptosystem but it didn't get the support of people until Mark Zuckerberg make a statement about it. For you to be sure do some research about Metaverse projects like Spheroid Universe.