It should've been developed into real hardware.
Energia was not dependant on Buran to launch. Energia was an independent launcher that could launch other payload besides Buran. Even the Zenit boosters (SeaLaunch) could be used as launchers in their own right. This is what I would like to see the Ares launchers eventually evolve into. A shuttle orbiter is far to important a system to do away with,IMO.