My 1999 startup did not fail because I made the wrong bet about the ancient IRC protocol. IRC isn't "growing" just because you stuck a web front end on it and started counting page views. Like I said, the overwhelming majority of your users could care less what the protocol is behind it.
You are the opposite of right; IRC is dying, and will be replaced with web chat systems with backend protocols nobody thinks about.
Why would I count page views? Counting profit is much more fun.
I think you'll see an explosion in online webchat this year and next, and IRC will be one of the clear winners.
I don't like the protocol, it's a complete mess to be honest, but that's what'll happen.
You are the opposite of right; IRC is dying, and will be replaced with web chat systems with backend protocols nobody thinks about.