I often hear this.

1) Lightning Network is a semi-functional crutch that often doesn't work properly even between two different custodial wallets.

2) ecash is a custodial solution that works great for amounts of $1-20-50, but if you need to buy something more expensive, then another risk arises.

3) Fiat on/off ramps and Monero. For some reason, it just so happens that only people in rich countries like Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia have these problems.

The rest of the world copes perfectly well with Hawala (or, as cool kids call it "over-the-counter/OTC/p2p" chats), RetoSwap.com, and various services from KYCnot.me, and dozens of swappers.

And BTW, Monero is used as a digital currency. :)

Due to the fact that governments and regulators are fighting Monero with delists from centralized exchanges, people have developed an even stronger culture of buying things directly with XMR, without a fiat proxy, using Monerica.com and XMRbazaar.com.