I appreciate the insight, and correction about what protocol it's using as well.

Bitcoin Cash can be proud to carry on its ancestor's purpose, Bitcoin: a peer-to-peer electronic cash system.

Understood - but is something as inconsequential as a name worth the social animosity that BCH goes through? There are massive amounts of crypto-positive people who oppose and don't trust BCH simply on the fact that it's pushed as the 'real Bitcoin'.

What would be the drawbacks of BCH rebranding into it's own animal, distanced from Bitcoin?

If it's a matter of pride, that's a bit disappointing as such an inconsequential concern implies a lack of confidence. If any current tech giant name was contended and lost, they would regroup and resolve with minimal friction. They would still be trusted by those that use them, and those that didn't like them would be unaffected or perhaps take it as an oppottunity to revist.