I'd like to see what comes of any attempt to regulate or even ban privacy coins.  Maybe some people would be scared away if laws were passed, but good coins like XMR will still thrive by those whose passions are crypto and privacy, and they'll do so knowing there's not a damn thing any gov't can do to shut down XMR's blockchain.

I have no pretenses about having expertise in cyber surveillance, but from what I've heard of Monero it would be very hard if not impossible to trace transactions.  That's all worry about what might happen.  We'll see what actually happens.

Alternatives?  I wouldn't bother, honestly.  Look at coins like PIVX or Firo and you'll see that there's a much higher degree of centralization because of features XMR doesn't have, e.g. masternodes or staking, the existence of a DAO, etc.  I've listened to that guy Reuben talk about Firo as though he's the CEO of the coin.  Any time you have a coin where there's any voting involved, watch out.