The problem with Statehood, Non-Statehood, Commonwealth, and Independence are several things.  Not to support either or because I can’t make an educated guess as to what would be best unless significant research can be done. 
For example, many Islands in the Caribbean that are liberated from England are relatively new in the form of freedom from a much larger state or country. Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Windward Islands (Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada), Barbados, the Leeward Islands (Antigua and Barbuda, St. Christopher [hereafter, St. Kitts] and Nevis, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, and Montserrat), and the so-called Northern Islands (the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands) and this doesn’t include Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire, but all these have gained their independence within the last 60 years. Although Curacao is an Island owned by the Netherlands, and is one of the most prosperous Islands in the Caribbean.  The prosperous state of the Island has lots to do with the structure set by the Netherlands and Curacao’s government.
But in order to make a case for Puerto Rico to be independent or to become a state oppose to staying a Commonwealth, a lot of research needs to be done. I don’t think we know enough about Puerto Rico the Island to say if they could survive in the global trade market, export, import, gross national product, tourism, factories, and political direction.  I believe that these questions need to be analyzed completely as to who would Puerto Rico trade with and what? What is Puerto Rico’s greatest resource? Let’s not talk about the detriment the United States has caused the Island by raping the natural resources of the Island. So, what needs to be done is a survey as to what will be the strength of the Island if it becomes an independent Island? Would it be tourism? Which most likely it would be.  Would it be the exporting of coffee? A training ground for Boxers and Baseball Players? Singers, Dancers? Would the strength of the Island be entertainment? Would it be agriculture?
But we do have to look at what type of political structure would take over.  Would it be U.S. influenced? If it is than it might as well stay a Commonwealth, if it’s not will it be fair to the people who are currently there? Would it be a Democracy or Socialist? It is very difficult to make a judgment call on something that is hypothetical with no research.
Commonwealth is the best Puerto Rico can do at the moment, but what is to say that they can’t become and independent nation and thrive? It is all a matter of perspective.  I believe that an Island like Puerto Rico has so much rich history that tourism would obviously be the number one attraction at first. But what is to say that companies under new government wouldn’t be able to thrive and provide better jobs and economy? And who is to say that the educational system wouldn’t improve? If you look at Puerto Rico’s productivity ratios at least in factories, it is doubled what it is in the United States. For example, Value for every $10 amounts for on dollar of production worker wages, in the U.S. I t is $4. Boricua.com/facts
Its trade power is stronger than all the Caribbean Basin Nations combined (data as of 1992). It is also greater than any Western Hemisphere country south of here except Brazil and Mexico. So the economic power is there. The education system is not as bad as I thought after doing this research.  %54 of college students are between the ages of 20-24 one of the highest world attendance rates in the age group across the world.
But how much of this has to do with U.S. influence? How would the U.S. black ball Puerto Rico if it became a sovereign nation?
We do have to understand something clearly here.  Puerto Rico has become victim of the United States’ policies and influence in the world. It is a tough call, because the United States’ evil demeanor can mean that any other ally that the Island trades with can be asked not to be trade with Puerto Rico due to its independence.
The possibility is there. Also, there is so much that the drug economy can provide or not provide for the Island. If they legalize drugs, then we have a different economy base that could increase value to the Island from the South American and Afghanistan perspective.  Obviously drugs come from Puerto Rico we can’t lie to ourselves, but it is a conduit to the rest of South America and Middle East.  That can become a great trading power if done correctly. Why not use what has brought Puerto Rico down to bring it up? The economy would blossom and under regulatory sales of narcotics, the crime would become lower in percentage (only a theory as it has worked in Amsterdam and other parts of Europe). 
And before you tell me that how could I dare say legalize drugs in Puerto Rico, note that I’m throwing out theories as to what would make an independent country worthwhile and could possibly work.  Everything has to be explored if a serious decision has to be made in regards Statehood or Independent. Because that’s what countries have to assess as to how to govern their people, what is to be legal, and what is not.  You might and I hate to say this as well, but legalizing prostitution might be an option to regulate disease and provide extra tourism and income, Curacao does it.
Regulating alcohol and other forms of entertainment.  All this has to be examined. But until all the I’s are dotted and all the T’s are crossed a sound decision can’t and shouldn’t be made. So, for the sake of staying in prosperous waters, I say Puerto Rico stays the same for the moment until everything is looked at from a third perspective.  My two pennies.