I'd be for that but not sure how that would work with exchanges and pools.
QT client default ON, darkcoind default OFF.
Then you wouldn't be able to say it's automatic or mandatory if there would still be an option for those to get around having to do it from the start.
I think just having DS on by default in the QT client would greatly speed the mixing process. How many regular users are going to mess about with it or run the daemon instead? Why would they? DRK is a private coin, if you don't care about privacy there's BTC.
i like to have choices and the way Darksend is setup right now it gives me choices. What yr proposing (or whats being proposed) is basicly converting Darksend into an Apple
rolemodel with very few choices... i dont like it.
I understand your desire to have choices, but comparing DRK to Apple is fighting talk.

Default on in the QT client benefits all DS users and doesn't do anyone any harm, if you want to use Darkcoin transparently (say you're just interested in IX and don't care about privacy) you could click a button and do so. Seems reasonable to me?
What seems odd to me is having it OFF by default. It suggests a lack of confidence in the process. Like buying a V10 Ferrari and having to go out of your way to fire up the other 9 cylinders.