Not all scams are ponzis but just because they aren't a ponzi doesn't mean they're not a scam or that they're viable.
I agree that "long-term offers" is an inappropriate label for many of the high-risk programmes being offered and that a more suitable way of segregating the different types of investments being offered needs to be found.
by APR % IMO
I don't think the starfish is a ponzi starfish. He asks loans at 1% per week. You must consider most BTC loans around here are at about >10% per month, so, if he takes BTCs and lends BTCs there is a reasonable business to be made, with a healthy profit margin. He is as transparent as he can be without disclosing personal info. I'm even thinking to do that at a smaller scale (small enough for me to cover losses) if I get the guts.
Personally I'd give him a lot of money if he accepted USD-denominated deposits, and I could even make some nice passthroughs in my country, taking the risk myself.