I dont think monero is so unpopular than it shoukd be, monero is still very early as an altcoin and it offers a superb privacy that even bitcoin couldn't give, monero would olny be of interest to those that needs its service in a way or two and that should be amongst people that already know about crypto in a way or two, so expecting to hear about monero from new users or peole ealry in crypto or on major crypto news would not be a realistic thing, and besides most new investors come in because of wanging to make profits and right now monero is not that coin and shouldn't be cause if it enters the spot light and government gains attention to it, could lead to its downfall like the silk road market place that offers quite the anonymity like monero