What do you mean it didn't take off? QR code detection is implemented in native iOS camera and IIRC most android implementations too. Almost everyone can use it.
I feel like that has changed over the past few years. Many restaurants in my area started using them for menus, and I recently saw them used to setup wifi while on vacation.
The only places I see qr codes is on my phone to share the WiFi password and on products to scan for compitions and from time to time on advertising at bus stoos
In my country (BR) this transfer method (Pix) that can be iniatiated with a QR code has really picked up - I'm surprised a simple "scam" - replacing printed QR codes that are glued to resturant tables - hasn't caught on yet.
In that sense it took off more than bitcoin.