Public basically didn't have a choice for a big new shiny gg from huge companies back then compared to now, where they have a variety of popular 4th gen girl groups to listen to. Itzy debuted as the first girl group from the Big 3, so people simply embraced whatever they came out with. The group basically born with no competition at all. Yet, it's quite obvious that when Aespa debuted, they already started to overshadow Itzy. I don't think it's really a coincidence. In 2022, when all the anticipated new groups debuted (Ive, Kep1er, Nmixx, Lsf, Nj), Itzy almost lost their hype if it weren't for Chaeryeong suddenly going viral. By 2023, as these groups made names for themselves, Itzy basically 'disappeared' from the general public and K-netizens' eyes. Their recently cb songs are good and Untouchable is being accepted well from what I see, but it didn't change anything for them.
Aespa has been able to maintain their position quite comfortably even with almost a year-long hiatus. So, gp really love their sounds that they're still able to compete in this tough 4th gen gg competition. Yet, Itzy hasn't been able to do the same. They are suddenly forgotten.
So, I wonder if their songs were actually never loved from the beginning, and it's just because the general public didn't have a second choice as I said above.
Is short, if they debuted in 2022, public opinions about Dalla Dalla might change and they probably view it as a fail debut.