I can tell you from just my own experience there is real interest in BitShares by investors. Bitcoin showed them what could be done, but a lot of them know that its time for the next wave.
If these supposed investors are interested then why dont they buy? What are they waiting for?
They want to put their money into businesses that build on BitShares. Holding shares, especially as they are now, is not a compelling story. For example, a new debit card backed by a decentralized network with capacity twice that of visa/mc with gateway being secured by a nuclear bunker data center.. thats sexy.
It doesn't put money into BTS, it puts it into businesses that will bring utility to BTS. That's a story you want to share. The BitShares story by itself isn't where the focus is.. its the businesses that will build on 2.0 that matters. CNX understands this.. heck they are one of the stories now.
The only time I see investors starting to look at BTS as a place to put their money is when they see things like what I just mentioned where transactions will be powered by BTS that will give it its value.
I see things from a utility place though.. as I have stated many times before.. I am no trader.