Most of the features that make Dash great are dependent on having masternodes. And, as you point out yourself, it would not be easy to copy that. Which features of Dash do you think could be easily copied by some of the bigger cryptos? I don't see how they could. In order to compete with Dash, they would have to find other ways to provide instant, private, and low-fee transactions; and other ways to fund projects that improve the network.
RE: Why Everyone Will Soon Copy Dash, and How Dash Can Survive