I don't know if pricing people out of being able to use Bitcoin as the transaction fees rise was intended. I think the unsaid assumption is that fiat value will rise enough to make the amount of Bitcoin spent in tx fees more reasonable.

That wasn't my assumption

My assumption was: in 95% of cases, bank cards and cash work well enough

In the other 5% of cases, bitcoin's base layer works well enough

If someone wants you to pay them a small amount, e.g. to buy food for your family, that transaction is not in the 5%