The problem is Dark Matter, without any proof it exists, was elevated into the cosmological paradigm, taken for granted that it exists, when it may very well no

The problem is Dark Matter, without any proof it exists, was elevated into the cosmological paradigm, taken for granted that it exists, when it may very well not exist. As part of the paradigm, it is incredibly difficult to remove. Someone could have figured out what the missing mass was 15 years ago, or that there was no missing mass - eliminating the need for Dark Matter - yet Dark Matter could continue remain part of the established paradigm for 50 more years or longer. Paradigmatic criteria should at the very least include positive proof of existence, saving the effort wasted in teaching, discussing and testing for something that never existed, as proving it doesn't exist is much more difficult if not impossible even if it doesn't exist, which I personally think is a pretty good bet at this point.