I'm not sure what makes you think that is the 'single innovative aspect' (besides, unless we're talking about Monero, most crypto transactions are not anonymous). One of the reasons I'm excited is for truly borderless transactions with friends and family overseas without every bank in the middle taking their (unknown ahead of time) cut. Even Wise incurs extra costs, as it doesn't support their native currency and USD/SWIFT is the only option. I'm absolutely sick of the unfairness built into the financial system and I get the feeling that much of the cynicism around crypto comes from a position of privilege.
Anyway, back to your point. Why should a layer on top 'eliminate' the layer underneath? Card companies did not eliminate cash.
> I'm not sure what makes you think that is the 'single innovative aspect'
Because that is the single innovative aspect of crypto: circumventing regulation (by virtue of not having a central authority). Every single other thing can be done better by a non-decentralised system.
> much of the cynicism around crypto comes from a position of privilege.
Boo-hoo. I would think that more rich people are circumventing capital controls in China, Korea, and Argentina using crypto than poor, unbanked people are using crypto.
Anyway, back to your point. Why should a layer on top 'eliminate' the layer underneath? Card companies did not eliminate cash.