Character popularity is an interesting concept when it comes to the story structure. I don't believe Oda will completely change his vision on a character based on the desires of fans but rather I feel he would consider enhancing how they are presented. In a different reality where Weevil is the most popular Shichibukai, could we have seen him feature beyond the few panels we have gotten so far? Or if Urouge was equated as a rival to Luffy alongside Kid and Law, would Oda have written Urouge into this Wano Arc or promoted him in the Whole Cake Island Arc by writing him in as an ally that takes on Snack during "Sanji's retrieval" (rather than before)? Maybe, maybe not. I do feel though if a character isn't central to the immediate happenings (i.e. characters that are not the Yonko), having popularity would assist in bringing them more into the attention of the story. It would explain why the progressions surrounding characters like Sabo, Law and Marco are fleshed out in panel time opposed to other less popular characters like Raizo, Jack, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. Between these extremes there also exist a point where a character's lack of focus is intentional by Oda even if popular which seems to be the case currently for characters like Hiyori and Denjiro.
I usually try to avoid joining in on the discussion on Carrot but I can't help it with this post. Her popularity is indeed surprising but I suspect that even if Oda wished to feature her more, his plans for the Wano Arc were already in motion to adjust toward accommodating additional spotlighting on Carrot. It appears that the majority of the focus Oda wished to place on Carrot wasn't aligned with any battles but rather something more dialogue based once Nekomamushi and Inuarashi open up about the mysterious "Dawn" they are referring to. Would things have turned out differently if these character popularity results came out at the start of the Wano Kuni Arc? Would Oda have constructed an opponent that would allow Carrot to be highlighted in battle such as a new Beast Pirate? Could be. Obviously, there will be a conclusion to her story arc but based on the treatment Oda has given her throughout the Wano Kuni Arc it appears more aligned with that of a secondary character than one set-up to evolve into taking a place amongst the main cast.
There may have been a promise whispered to readers during the events of Whole Cake Island concerning Carrot but nothing within the Wano Kuni Arc so far suggests or substantiates a path toward that elevated end seemingly implied.
One of the elements I look at considerably for characters holding potential to join the Straw Hat Pirates is the set-up they receive. What focus did they receive? What mysteries were imbued into their story that would be fascinating to uncover? Can their story stand alongside the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates? The thing about a character when they join as a Straw Hat Pirate is the proceeding level of focus they then receive is incredibly lessened and minimized. So it makes it all the more imperative that the coverage the specific character is given prior to joining the Straw Hat Pirates is substantial and defined enough to carry them forward into the future content of One Piece. Unless the Straw Hat Pirate is Luffy or Zoro, they aren't getting extra treatment. A Straw Hat Pirate rather than being treated as an individual character within the arc is instead treated as part of a group. The very dynamic of the character changes once joining part of the main cast. Sure each character can have their moments, but you rarely get a Straw Hat Pirate having driving story treads of their own within an arc. There were the arcs centering around Robin (Enies Lobby) and Sanji (Whole Cake Island) but in both those arcs, Robin and Sanji were restricted in certain capacities. This is especially true for the later members who joined the crew after being given runway to make their mark. After joining, these members do not receive as substantial focus. Some of Robin's, Franky's, Brook's and Jinbe's best/memorable moments came before they joined the Straw Hat Pirates. This is why characters that receive significant focus in arcs prior to joining the Straw Hat Pirates are viewed as strong contenders in my eyes.
With Carrot, while she may have had focus in the Whole Cake Island Arc, her overall presentation by Oda is markedly lacking from my view. What is Carrot's role within the Wano Kuni Arc? What wouldn't have been achieved in the Wano Kuni Arc without her there? Her most substantial accomplishment within the arc was deviating Perospero's attention away from Marco and onto Wanda and her. It was great moment but within an arc like Wano, it was noticeably overshadowed and appeared more to set-up Macro's role within the arc than her own. This is supported by the heightened focus Marco received going forward and the battle Carrot and Wanda were waging against Perospero being completely off-screened until focus needed to shift to their defeated states. Such focus or lack of focus appears to demonstrate intentions by Oda. If a character were destined to become part of the main cast, I honestly do not believe they would be handled in such a manner by Oda. The current moment is the most important time for a potential Straw Hat nakama and rather than lacking focus, Oda would be intensifying it. Outside the focus Carrot received alongside the Straw Hat Pirates, there hasn't been much else concentrated on before the battle against Perospero (about 6 panels focusing on Carrot away from the Straw Hat Pirates before the Onigashima raid).
I may have missed a few but here are the panels featuring Carrot in the chapters across the Wano Arc.
! Chapter 910
! Chapter 911
! Chapter 919 >! Chapter 920
! Chapter 921 >! Chapter 922 >! Chapter 924 >! Chapter 925 >! Chapter 929 >! Chapter 938 >! Chapter 955 >! Chapter 959 >! Chapter 975 >! Chapter 976 >! Chapter 977 >! Chapter 978 >! Chapter 979
! >!
Chapter 981
! Chapter 982
! >!
Chapter 983
!
Chapter 985
! >!
Chapter 986
! >!
Chapter 987
! >!
Chapter 988
! >!
Chapter 989
! >!
Chapter 992
! >!
Chapter 995
! >!
!
Chapter 1006
! Chapter 1023
! >!
Chapter 1026 >!
From such focus, Carrot has largely not been an active player within the Wano Kuni Arc and that makes me question her potential as a Straw Hat Pirate. I do find that it may be possible for Carrot to still feature in future arcs due to her popularity and prominence as a Mink (one of the main ones).