After looking over multiple threads on these forums I have seen quite a few dedicated to this 'style'. And, in many of those threads people mention that it should be a style included in the BJCP with its own guidelines and descriptions. So, I ask you, do you think that it deserves its own category?

For me, I'm not really convinced I've seen any reason to. From the commercial examples I have tasted like Stone's Sublimely Self-righteous, and Victory's Yakima Twilight - I really haven't tasted anything that differentiates these beers from American IPAs/IIPAs - there may be a slight roast character to them but nothing that is anything more than barely detectable. The only thing that really is different is the color - and to me, that alone isn't a reason for its own category in BJCP. Also, looking at the several recipe threads in this forum, none of them really incorporate the rich malty/roasted/coffee flavors we all associate with dark/opaque beers. I'm not asking for a hoppy stout or imperial stout, but just enough of something different to set it apart.
Perhaps though, being on the east side of the country, I haven't really experienced the best examples for the style, and I'm definitely open for suggestions on what good beers would better represent this style.