'Do you think mass acceptance of another coin, such as DNotes, is in any way dependent on mass acceptance of Bitcoin? Or could it happen independently?'
May I say 'both'? Bitcoin is 'running block' for us, Wiser: first-to-market. Once an individual, though, has some competency with Bitcoin, they may well consider other cryptos, and choose one of those.
And here is where I put in a plug for IndiaMikeZulu's model, P2P-friendly: if you set someone up with Not-Bitcoin as their first crypto, you then have a fine chance that they will both stick with that coin, and become part of its P2P/merchant network.
Have you noticed my constant interest in the altcoin-cap-to-Bitcoin-cap ratio? Your question is why I watch it. And just a couple of days ago, there were four cryptos running multi-mil-$ trading-volumes!
Mark (IndiaMikeZulu), Australia