I don't think anyone said it was bad but rather just bland, uninspired with grey visuals with a predictable and dull plot, like the hoard of other shooters of it's type hence it just got lost in the crowd. Many places did comment on how the co-op mode was pretty fun. So I really doubt a name change would have done anything for it, hell we would probably have forgotten it existed already had it not been for the name/IP controversy.
I enjoyed Syndicate too but I admit I was dissapointed when I heard it was going to be an FPS. What I was hoping for was a more Mass Effect 1 style of squad combat with Dragon Age (PC) viewpoints selection.It was also missing DeusEx style customisation which I thought would've been a no brainer seeing as you play as a cyborg.