If the band hadn't become popular because "Sweet Child O' Mine" didn't exist (or was left off "Appetite For Destruction"), they would've recorded a follow up to AFD with maybe 12 songs on it and "Don't Cry" would've been one of those. I think they would've become popular anyway because they were a bit different from the rest of the bands around at the time.
Without their success with "Appetite For Destruction", I don't think Geffen would've let them release a double album.
/jarmo
i agree they would have been popular in the rock/metal curcuit but commercially they would not of had appeal unless PC was rotated hard enough i think popularity wise they would be say on par with VR as i dont class VR as a commercial band and i hope they keep it that way.