Tetrataenite, page-5

I think CCD's point was that electrification is the way we are going in all spheres, and nickel has a big role to play.
My point in the original post was that there is another potential string to nickel's bow, in the realm of permanent magnets. These will also be required in great numbers in an electrified world. You seem to have missed that point. Tetrataenite holds the promise of making rare earth elements obsolete for strong permanent magnets.
The tetrataenite unit cell formula is Fe5Ni5, so equal amounts of iron and nickel. As natural tetrataenite forms in iron meteorites with no input from man, I don't rule out the possibility that man can figure out how to make it from nickel pig iron, which contains the two required metals.