Nice thoughts and analysis. I don't invest in dead coins, but I suspect you nailed the reasons--hope for a pump & dump or pure luck. What are the main reasons for a reverse merger? It seems that these dead coins might have some baggage associated with them, which could put the new team/initiative at risk.
RE: Reverse-Merger Coins: Hoping That Low Value Coins Get a Developer Reboot or New Ownership - Crypto Trader Journal