Presales (and premines and instamines) have a negative connotation regardless of what the money is used for. It would be a shame to turn people away from a good cryptocurrency just because there was a presale. IMO, voluntary coders and fair distribution is the way to go.
I agree, just mentioned both possible ways, to clear it out.
Also imitating btc stats including total supply, distribution curve or even lowering the inflation is most advisable. But the time between blocks should be much shorter, 1 or 2 minutes would be ideal.
The only thing I don't like about cryptonite is its 10 years flat high inflation rate. Unless a coin has an existent market to support and use its supply from the day 1, high flat inflation would scare people off. Moderate speculative atmosphere (I don't mean pump and dump) is healthy for any growing economy.