In my honest opinion, Viz is helping to destroy One Piece in America instead of trying to make it popular.
For one thing, they're using poor advertizing techniques like Zephos had said a while ago. Take volume 6 for example. Why would Viz think a childish picture of Luffy with an inner tube on the back cover would persuade manga readers who have never heard of One Piece or have been attacked by the dub to buy the book when they could've used say the color panel of Zoro getting slashed by Mihawk in chapter 52. It's much more eye-catching to those who know nothing of One Piece.
Also, my opinion that Viz and 4Kids are in cahoots when it comes to One Piece is getting very high now. They've already changed Zoro to Zolo because of the dub, used 4Kids' adaption of Shichibukai, and have shortened Cocoyashi Village to Coco Village, just like 4Kids did. These are just little pieces of evidence and nothing is clear, at least not yet.
The truth will be revealed when Viz reaches Louge Town. If Smoker is indeed renamed as Chaser, like in the dub, all my suspicions will be correct. They may also do what they did with Mr. Satan in DBZ and put in his character info box, "He's known as Smoker in the original Japanese publication." Buts still, if Viz chooses to go down that direction and match waith the dub, all that I can say is that One Piece is forever doomed in America.
As of now, the Viz translation is ok, it's not that great, yet it's not as horrible as the dub. There are times when I smile while reading it and times when I cringe. What really disapoints me though is that Viz won't give One Piece at least one completely safe haven in America. They did it for DBZ years back, the old FUNi dub was sucky, yet Viz's manga translations were flawless. If Viz would try and translate One Piece like they did with DBZ in order to make up for the shitty dub and use better advertizing techniques, then it's chances of being saved in America will be greater and maybe hopefully down the line, we'll get a much better dub, just like what happened with DBZ.