Nothing new about bitcoin. I read about it 1st time at least 10 years ago and maybe as long as 15 or more ago. Don't remember exactly but it's been around a very long time.
It may have died and been recently resurrected. When I 1st noticed it all those years ago there was lots and lots of activity and lots of stuff available for sale. Never participated; got tired of watching the market for it.
A reasonably good idea IMO but one that won't ever really take off or be more than a flash in the pan. Human nature is such that I don't believe enough people will ever trust the system enough to use it for real.
Nope, conceived in 2007, genesis block generated January 2009. Not sure what you were watching 15 years ago but it wasn't btc. If 6,674% in 2 years doesn't qualify as taking off, what would? People are using it "for real" now.