People don't see a need to buy when they can buy anything they want with fiat, but if you get the Bitcoin directly by doing some activity you are way more prone to use it. For example if you get paid in a sig campaign, you are more prone to spend this money. If I didn't had Bitcoin, I would have to buy it, and I would hold it but not treat it as something I would use to buy something.
Yes, buying bitcoin and spedning it for some purpose would only happen once bitcoin prices get stable (and the time 99% of total bitcoins will be mined out). Till then people will find it too hard to spend bitcoin for lower value. Yes, bitcoin is in it's investment phase. So, hold it.
Lack of merchants and lack of availability of needed products are the real stoppers.