Wouldn't the NSA prefer a more easily controlled centralized crypto currency? I would see them be behind Ripple more than behind Bitcoin. Or Ethereum, which will probably become the next target for conspiracy theorists if that breaks through. Anyway I think it's too easy to create a conspiracy theory about everything that becomes big.
If The Man had a controlling stake in the asset from the very off, what difference does it make if it is 'decentralised' or not? Was gold ever centralised? Did JP Morgan, the master of pump n dump not have a great big hard on for the Gold Standard?
A cornered market is a controlled market and possibly Bitcoins purpose is not to become a currency that challenges the USD, but to provide a vehicle for capital flight out of the economies of 'enemy nations' (banned in China and Russia) into the USD and western assets?
For this purpose, a liquid Bitcoin market needs to spring up. Whether it be black market trade, small time money cleaning, libertarian minded speculators etc.