I think losing the word autonomous is a terrible idea, for a few reasons:
1) It's an opportunity to reintroduce the concept of autonomy (freedom from external control or influence; independence), to those in whom it is absent
2) "Decentralized Autonomous" speaks to the vision you articulated in A Philosophy of Freedom published on bitshares.org: "The point of the Invictus Movement is to show a new way, the DAC way, of governing society in a decentralized voluntary way. A way that is entirely non-violent and yet inescapable in its ability to motivate just outcomes, fair trade, and enforcement of contracts."
In relation to the idea of governance the word automated invokes in me, and I think it would for many others, a chilling dread. The word automated feels dead, static. The word autonomous is dynamic, requires action...
Automated/Application leaves room in the imagination for the Borg. Autonomous leaves room in the imagination for non-violence and just outcomes.
3) While the blockchain is an automated application, a DAC by this or any other name requires the participation of people to be brought to life, so I'd emphasize the involvement aspect/benefits in your marketing.
“Words belong to those who use them only till someone else steals them back.”― Hakim Bey, TAZ: The Temporary Autonomous Zone
If I were the benevolent dictator
![Cheesy :D](http://bitsharestalk.org/Smileys/aaron/cheesy.gif)
I would go with Decentralized Autonomous Zone.
Zone: noun 1. any continuous tract or area that differs in some respect, or is distinguished for some purpose, from adjoining tracts or areas, or within which certain distinctive circumstances exist or are established.
Within a Zone you could have corporations, companies, communities, cooperatives, clowns, and all the other letters of the alphabet.
Besides, the anacronym DAZ has more pizzazz!