The surveys of dedicated fansites are not perfect and they probably overestimate K. Rool's popularity but this exact point applies to virtually every character discussed with reference to the ballot. Including: Inkling, Shantae, Isaac, BWaddle Dee, etc. Almost no character discussed in the community actually is known to the supposed casual base some here feel are making the key difference in results. The only characters that I reasonably think could be underestimated in polls are Mario characters like Daisy and Toad or third party icons like Master Chief.
If K. Rool is apparently "not really" popular according to some people here, I wonder who they think is REALLY topping the charts. The polls are our best evidence since they they capture MOST of the votes in the ballot (that is, communities like these would also have people that would probably vote multiple times/convince their friends, unlike less interested casual voters). If K. Rool is NOT in as DLC (and it is still unclear if this is the cacse), it seems unreasonable to think that it was because he was not popular enough. Because again, the question is raised: Who IS? Is there ANY candidate discussed that would also be largely ignored by this supposed casual base? Let's not rewrite history or the evidence to suit our internal monologue.