Consumer price indexes and exchange rates are constantly fluctuating, although admittedly BTC temporarily lost half its value a few times while it climbed from $0.09 to $106,154.15 in 15 years.

The price goes up alongside adoption rates, at this point it takes a massive amount of funds to manipulate, like tens of billions.

The vast majority of scammers ask you to wire transfer funds out of the USA or purchase gift cards.

I agree with you that smaller coins are all pointless and terrible investment but I do see possitive potential for Crypto in the future as a means of people resisting central agencies.