[phenol]

Just playing devil's advocate here, but are you sure that the same sort of start-up culture pervaded the industry when these single-letter-NYSE companies formed (some over a century ago)? Don't you think that the presence of mass media (specifically internet presence) has greatly changed the importance of a name?

[tedunangst]

Yes and no. Look at magazine ads from the 1920s. No shortage of awesome sounding names peddling crap.

same sort of start-up culture pervaded the industry

I'd say that's the problem right there. Shouldn't the importance of a name be relevant to the customers and not the founders? :)