Couple of years ago, around 2018, I researched a bit deeper about dogecoin. I came to conclusion, that it is like dormant: development dead, a dying thing.
If in 2018 it was not only Dogecoin that was dying, but Bitcoin itself is also experiencing it now along with all other Altcoins that are also popular at this time, so I don't think it is a suitable thing to be used as a specific benchmark for Dogecoin.
Now quite recently I stumbled across
news, that dogecoin has been actively developed again. There is the US company called "Dogelabs" (New York City and Tulsa, Oklahoma) discovering, creating, and implementing “real-life” uses for the Doge Protocol. A layer bridge between doge and ethereum is coming, and so on.
This is very good news although I also only just found out through you at this time,
because in general Dogecoin has powers that other meme coins don't have today.
So obviously dogecoin has a chance to survive also without mr. Musk, although he can and has already given huge boost.
Totally agree with what you say because most people still don't believe that without Musk, Dogecoin can still live and develop over time.