LTC will probably be around for a long time, But they are starting to fall into the same funk that BTC has fallen in, and that is a lack of innovation. And no I don't think making LTC a privacy coin is a good way to go, especially sense there are so many good privacy coins out there already. If LTC doesn't get its act together it will get pushed below coins like DGB that are solidly innovating on a regular basis, Especially once DGB releases Digi-assets.