that's a very good realization. What if "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" was named something else? I think the fandom wouldn't be as big as it is now, and the show not as popular as it is now. What ruins/attracts, at first glance, about this show is the name.
Let's face it, many became bronies, because of curiosity, knowing the target and the audience of MLP before gen4, WTH!? grown ass men watching a show for little girls? what it's this? I must check this out, and the name of the show pops up. If the name was different, there wouldn't be controversy, morbidness, social disputes and more. Perhaps bronies wouldn't even exists.
It doesn't matter if the show and the fandom gets negative or possitive feedback, we are in the mouths of everyone in the internet and that gives us popularity, no matter what. Just my 0.02$