A lot of these features and services will come to fruition around the end of 2016 I would think.
That would be way too late, I think. Getting a good set of on- and off-ramps for BitUSD soon should be THE top priority for BitShares (once a stable, user-friendly client is ready). Working towards that goal in a leisurely fashion would be a huge mistake, IMO. BitShares really could use a group of people working on gateways and on- and off-ramps 'round the clock, much like what we thought Bp was or should have been doing.
Make no mistake, the market-pegged BitUSD is BitShares' most important vehicle for achieving rapid worldwide adoption and network effect. In this respect, BitUSD constitutes a key strategic advantage that no competitor currently has. I'd even argue that BitGold, for example, isn't as important to BitShares right now as BitUSD is. Many other cryptocurrencies and protocols could come up with a legitimate competitor to gold and BitGold. All that is required is a relatively fixed supply of coins or shares. In some future economic environment, a solid non-inflationary currency could be almost on par with gold in terms of protecting against the value loss from holding fiat currencies.
For the time being, the USD is relatively strong and stable, so that gives BitShares an unique advantage over other cryptos and a tremendous opportunity to quickly grow its user base. But that advantage won't last forever. BitUSD can be copied by others, and its appeal to the masses is predicated on the perception that USD is a stable, safe store of value.
We must strike while the iron is hot. That means getting BitUSD gateways/ramps ASAP.