FYI we started working on the precursor to this in 2013 (ascribe). Bitcoin hadn't even hit the mainstream then, let alone blockchain. We didn't build it to mash together buzzwords. We built it because we saw a clear need for it. We had been building on Bitcoin, and (a) didn't scale to meet our needs and (b) was super-hard to use because it didn't act like a database. So we built BigchainDB to address issues (a) and (b).
Obviously, good old "boring" MySQL is incredibly useful for tons of problems. If you're already solving a problem with MySQL, then BigchainDB is not a fit. Don't use it, stick with the thing that's working.
Where it is useful is applications that want at least one of the following benefits:
1. decentralized, so that >1 orgs can share resources
2. immutable / tamper resistance, for provenance of ownership of art, spare parts, food, etc
3. assets, so you can exchange digital goods more readily.
More details here: https://blog.bigchaindb.com/three-blockchain-benefits-ae3a2a...