Although HIVE's blockchain code leans toward social-based use cases, at the end of the day it's still a decentralized database. As such, it really isn't supposed to be the "main event".
It's a database.
Nobody recommends an app to friends and family based upon what database the development team used. That's silly.
Just like people in the past confused Steem and Steemit, I'm sure people in the future will confuse Hive and Hive Blog. One's a database, and the other is an application.
If we want more people using the Hive database, then we must first understand that general users do not "use" the Hive database. They "use" apps built on Hive. The more apps that are built on Hive, the more frequently the database will be utilized--which will in turn create greater demand for the Hive currency.
So the important question to ask yourself is: What's more important to Hive's long-term success? Increasing the number of bloggers? Or increasing the number of dapp projects? When you say we have "loads" of great apps, I think we have different definitions for the term "loads". Yes, we have some solid apps with lots of potential. But if I can count them on my hands, that's not "loads".
We need more.
To support existing developers and attract new developers, the focus should be on developer resources, developer support channels, continued focus on improving the Hive Development Fund (to make it easily accessible, easy to understand, easy to use), and strong marketing that is targeted to developers and dapp projects.
Each new project on Hive will have an invested interest in promoting their product/service to the world, and when they do...they will be indirectly bringing new users to Hive at the same time.