MtGox is probably going to go down at some point, targeted by hostile government action. Personally I don't think it's a bad thing, I agree with that crazy Russian guy allegedly behind the ddosing, the Gox is starting to resemble a monopoly and I don't like to see one organization acquire so much power over such a revolutionary economic force as btc.
I don't know what conversations take place in MtGox's 'boardrooms' so to speak, I'm sure the crowd behind MtGox are stand-up guys but the sooner we have a vast range of competing exchanges in various countries the better.
Well, I think that the reason why mtgox is so popular is that it's the best exchange. At least for european transfers it's very easy and cheap too. All others I have looked at haven't offered such features as mtgox.