Woah!  I haven't posted on chesspublishing.com for months!  Anyway, the Accelerated Dragon would be more popular than the dragon because you save a tempo with ...d5! and you can transpose to the dragon if necessary, but if white establishes a Maroczy Bind than Black can struggle.  If white doesn't establish the bind than obviously the accelerated dragon would be better than the dragon because you save a tempo (hence the word "accelerated").  Unfortunately for accelerated dragon players, there is a reason why the dragon is much more popular.  The Maroczy bind gives white many chances.  Of course, some players don't mind playing against the Maroczy Bind as black, but it definitely isn't a sure win.  Take care.

from the accelerated dragon? I mean 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 is not THAT dangerous to avoid the whole opening. I always disliked the dragon and I usually win against it but I  play the accelerated dragon when I want to have some fun as it is full of traps, or I should better say full of clever counter play. e.x. 7.f3 O-O 8.Bc4 (if 8.Qd2 then 8..d5! = ) 8..Qb6 9.Bb3 transforming into well known variations of the dragon. I am not sure about the exact move order because there is always the counter - blow d7-d5, a really powerfull weapon in the accelerated dragon. My point is that you don't lose a tempo with d7-d6 and d6-d5.