I constantly switch back and forth between the darkroom and lighttable, so the only way a separate DAM application would work for me is if the integration between them were amazingly seamless, and if certain functions of the lighttable were added to the darkroom. For example, copying over the history stack to multiple images is a feature currently reserved for the lighttable. But as someone who uses the filmstrip in the darkroom, I would find it very helpful to be able to copy the history stack directly to other images in the filmstrip without leaving the darkroom.
I don’t know how seamless that could ever be with a separate DAM application, considering I already find it somewhat disruptive to have to exit the darkroom to do it.
I admit that part of my enjoyment of darktable’s DAM features is down to familiarity. I moved over from Lightroom and so I was already used to working like that. Personally, I like having everything in one place, but I know this is a matter of individual preference.