QUAD DOMAINS
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We’ve all heard the “.com will always be #1” viewpoint. There are investors who consider the .com version of a domain name to be the “ultimate” upgrade. Fortune 500 companies that brand with .com domains are used as the poster-child justification for why no other extension will EVER have a chance. Anyone who challenges the mere idea that “.com is king” stands to be scorned into oblivion. Mostly by folks who’ve made a decent living leveraging, and bolstering, the .com value-construct. However, it’s only fair, and in many cases reasonable, that a reign be placed under the microscope every so often. Especially where renewals are applicable. After all, benefits don’t always age gracefully. 
In a world where many people believe a king’s rule pales in comparison to a God’s power, it’s worth pondering what the metaphorical God would be in comparison to the king some investors believe is .com. If the answer can only have a centralized origin, one would have to say company-specific ICANN TLDs. (Ex: .google, .apple etc.) Considering Fortune 500 companies are used to justify .com’s royalty, it only makes sense they’d justify the royalty of their own TLDs. With two royals, which might a company favor? Probably their own. It’s difficult to make the case for why a Fortune 500 company would prioritize the .com over their own TLD. It just doesn’t seem ideal if branding is their focus.
The discussion about company-branded ICANN TLDs doesn’t receive nearly as much attention as it deserves. Especially at a time when decentralized TLDs take a lot of heat for merely existing. There are surely folks who are aware company-branded ICANN TLDs have been in the works for some time now. Companies opting to lead with the leveraging and promotion of their own TLD will ultimately help shift the paradigm of what constitutes the better domain name branding option. Sure, some investors speculate about the headache that might come with training the public to remember the TLD. However, with billions of marketing dollars, and a thirst for controlling narratives, most Fortune 500 companies will embrace the task. 
Everything stated brings us to the need for an objective discussion about the past, present and future benefits of the .com extension. (Branding and otherwise.) With robust advancements in technology, blockchain names commanding attention, domain-utility being a focus and internet end-user demographics evolving, it’s fair to ask what .com brings to the table other than age, familiarity and what many would consider a cult-like following. This question isn’t about stirring the hornet’s nest though. It’s about getting a grip on whether .com maximalism is relative to a sincere belief the extension has evolved in a way that’s relevant to not only ourselves; but to generations that’ll undoubtedly see the world and web through a completely different lens.
Share your constructive thoughts in the comments.
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Well stated.
Come on 
Diversification is value. Anyone who places all of their eggs in one basket risks their value being at the mercy of one fall. Remember, the horse and carriage had its time......until the automobile came along. .Com had its heydey. It'll forever have relevance in the history of the internet. Just don't count on the grandkids loving it.
Exactly! Your angle is alluding to a belief that .com's "popularity" alone is an anchor for infinite value and relevance. Because the internet is about technology from its core outward, I'd have to respectfully disagree. Utility transcends generations; and thus has a value and relevance that outweighs popularity any day.
If there was a popularity contest, .com would win hands down when compared to any centralized, or decentralized, domain extension. If there was a utility contest, .com would lose. It has years of popularity and acclaim; but is synonymous with websites and email addresses. There's no way this alone will appeal to future generations.
Remember, the internet has gone from "company and website visitors" to "company and end-users". People want, and deserve, utility. Popularity isn't utility. The moment a non-.com TLD is synonymous with something people need, and want, is the moment .com loses its momentum. This is actually happening as we speak with wallet domains.
Well, "silly ass emojis" come standard on most mobile devices; and have become an easily recognizable way to communicate digitally. This holds weight in a world where more and more people are searching by phone and not by desktop computer.
The problem is that many .com enthusiast are banking on .com being king at the expense of the general public not realizing they have options. This could be why the general public hasn't been practically educated on domain names before now.
End-users are just now realizing they can have their own slice of the internet pie by having a name they want; and one with more utility. They likely won't blindly endorse an extension some old guys are saying is the best thing since the internet's inception.
Yes, many corporations use .com domains; but they also have alternatives that can be leveraged at a moment's notice. Ex: YouTube uses both YouTube.com AND YouTu.be. Look forward to them breaking trend; and promoting YouTu.be as a primary.
It's not popular to say the public at large won't favor a .com. However, it's preposterous to think a child with a website won't go for a .cool or .fun etc in favor of a TLD that's short for "commercial". .Com will have its relevance; but not with everyone.
Mel
Absolutely. Technological evolution and adoption is about "due process". .Com's present popularity alone doesn't lend itself to evolution and long-term end-user benefits. This seems to be what some are missing or choosing not to acknowledge. We're talking about a facet of technology here.
