Never never never never never never check in the dark.
I never normally check in the dark because I don't want to give out a free draw shorthanded, and if i do flop a monster i don't want to miss a bet, but in this situation 8 ways to the flop i couldn't see it being checked all the way round and it gives no information to my hand being first to act.
I dont want to be picky, but I always hear this justification for chking in the dark and it's complete nonsense, you give no information away by calling from the SB and chking a 89Jss flop, you can still have T7, 88, 99, J9, A3ss all of these you would check, but one time in a hundred betting might DEFO be the best play even 8handed so all you've done by chking in the dark is just ruin that opportunity for yourself.
there really is just no need lol