While I agree mining has negative connotations, it also has positive ones. One of the common criticisms of Bitcoin is that it isn't tangible and mining carries that connotation.

I don't think it is very malleable. Language has network effects and like most things with network effects you'll need to develop a word that's at least 10x better. Accounting, ordering, validating, etc don't fit that bill imo. I actually think mining is a superior term negative connotations included.