Would it make you happier if we called it fairy matter. Like in we cant see it but it would be great if it was actually there
When I was in first year uni, someone did a geometric illustration (not proof) of special relativity time dilation. The only assumption was that the speed of light was a constant. I was stunned, there in clear understandable view was an illustration of how time passes at different rates for bodies (including people) in relative motion.
When Einstein thought of this, the understanding of anyone who cared to listen would have been as clear. However it could not be proved. These days of course there are many ways of proving it and the dilation can actually be easily measured.
Things which seem impossible at one stage of history have a habit of becoming commonplace in another and I think the same will happen with dark matter. Another example is antimatter, once a theoretical substance and these days manufactured by the milligram.
Paul