Trains in general are held back by governments not investing in rail infrastructure, because the pork barrel of another motorway link is so hard to resist (and we're not properly maintaining these either).
Sleeper trains are held back, because cross-boundary collaboration between the various semi-national rail companies is tough (for Europe).
Sleeper trains are held back, because there is a lack of modern rolling stock. Not completely new concepts; just up-to-date sleeper wagons (the ÖBB has the leading edge here now with their new wagons).
There is room for improvement in the wagon designs, but it is almost irrelevant in the face of the other challenges.