Would the Dragon Balls Still Function if Buu Absorbed Dende?

[Almighty Majin]

Let's say that Super Buu decided to absorb Dende. Would the Dragon Balls cease to function? Dende is not dead, but this is not a Piccolo/Kami situation where they became one being and Kami ceased to be as an individual. Dende still exists within Buu's body as a pod that can still be removed so does this mean that the Dragon Balls would still be functional? Would Buu gain influence/dominion over the Dragon Balls after having absorbed Dende?

[Civic]

The only thing that has made the dragon balls inert has been the death of the creator. Since Dende is still alive in this scenario, the dragon balls would still be active.

[nineko]

Let's not forget that Popo threw Dende out from the Lookout for this very reason, e.g. to prevent him from being absorbed by Boo. It's unclear if Popo would have been wrong, but it's directly stated both in the manga and in the anime.

[theherodjl]

Popo threw Dende down to Earth because Super Boo was turning everyone into chocolate to eat them, not to absorb them like he did with the Fat Boo. The fact that we see their souls in Heaven & Dai Kaio's world after getting consumed, as well as Super Boo stating that only the Fat Boo received special treatment, makes this clear.

[nineko]

That's a fair point which I didn't think about, thanks. I'm now inclined to believe that yes, it would be possible for the Dragon Balls to stay active if Boo used regular absorption, since he would de facto inherit Dende's powers.