The notion that a team must do either marketing/branding or product development is a false dichotomy. Some responses to the "let's do branding" position seem to be taking an either/or approach which is not necessary.
Those who feel marketing/branding is vital are free to work on it without any need for others to stop working on product development.
My own take is that branding/marketing is of relatively little consequence in big picture terms. While many marketing campaigns have been spectacularly effective, marketing efforts cannot prop up a weak product indefinitely (MintChip crypto, Blockbuster). At the other extreme, there are legendary examples of products that rose to the top with little or no marketing (Hershey bars, Napster), and even stellar products with good marketing that failed anyway (Betamax, quadraphonic sound). Those who perceive that marketing is paramount will say the failures needed more marketing and those who perceive that product is paramount will say the failures needed better product. There are no hard science methods to test the relative contribution of the factors.
Regardless - the "other side" - the fiat side - will invest heavily in marketing efforts to discredit crypto in general and DRK in particular once it is on their radar. We cannot possibly beat them in media access, coverage, or any of the other advantages that accrue to established entrenched entities. They will say and do anything they perceive will help preserve their hegemony. Anything. We cannot compete at that level without becoming just like them.
Never wrestle a pig in a mudhole. You both get dirty and the pig enjoys it.
On the other hand, crypto's potential strength is in nimbleness and product. Crypto is an idea whose time has come. Privacy is an idea that must never be lost.
Heh - a year or so back, the "other side" described
BTC in the media as being used "to buy assault rifles stuffed with heroin". We haven't even begun to hear the smears they'll come up with for DRK. Once they gather some momentum, the puerile trolling so far in the forums will seem like the good old days. Product might win but marketing will be buried by the other side, imho.
Pawn to queen four. Mate in seven.
Wow, I think you're right here.
