It can be a demand problem. People/companies aren't going to spend the time optimizing (including compilers/code) if there's no payoff that's greater than the delta for an arm chip.
That being said, demand from and via China (which has a geopolitical case for wanting to see risc-v succeed) will probably end up being what drives it forward.
That being said, demand from and via China (which has a geopolitical case for wanting to see risc-v succeed) will probably end up being what drives it forward.