Dash will get VC investment and retail use that Darkcoin never will.
- Doge got VC multiple investments with a similar non-corporate, non-super-serious name/brand/image. (and no real world use case)
- Alot of VC funded crypto currency startups process DarkCoin already (e.g. CEX.io, Bitfinex).
--> I don't think DarkCoin-related projects/startups couldn't VC get funding.
(Remember DarkCoin was strong, known [from TV coverage] brand.)
But I get your main point. I just wanted to say it would not have been impossible.
Problem with the renaming is, its not very powerful. The new name is dull.
And the consequence? Zero. Doge sponsored a NASCAR. The point has been perfectly put. There is nothing illegal about DRK, yet all media coverage (also because of Silk Road & BTC scams right around the corner) made it a case, as usual media, to demonise DRK.
Future VC will be much smoother without the "dark" label.
Thats it!
The coin and its mission remains the same. As Doge still has it's weird doggy as logo.