Bitcoin   - First real p2p currency without the middelman. Works fine, but have a governance issue combined with centralised mining etc.
Ethereum   - Promises to be the first p2p smart contracts provider without the middleman. Not quite there yet, but the team and support are strong.
Ripple   - p2p payments for the banks. Works fine.
Litecoin   - Safe haven coin for the bitcoin speculators. Works fine but due to no real innovation i dont see the difference from hundreds of others, only network effect.
MaidSafeCoin - Decentralized internet. I dont think thy are quite there yet, but the idea is interesting.
Dash            - Trying to be the best bitcoin. Allready has solved 0-conf problem with its instant-x tech, robust optional anonymity, rewarded full nodes, core integrated governance and budgeting system etc. All those previously mentioned things allready in working condition, not final but still working. Many great ideas and promises for the future release.
Factom   - First decentralised p2p fully transparent accounting system for businesses etc. i dont think they are quite there yet but again strong team and support.
Dogecoin   - First successful meme currency. Works fine, but lack of innovation and depends on litecoin network.
BitShares   - Decentralized Exchange. Many good ideas and a lot allready working.
Monero   - Trying to be the best anon currency based on CN. Due to heavy trolling from monero guys i am little bit biased but i think that their tech works fine. I am not completely sure about what they added to bytecoin code. They promise to be a lot, just that trolling part combined with opaque blockchain makes me ask many questions.
NEM           - They aim to creata a new economy based on the principles of decentralization, financial freedom, and equality of opportunity. I dont think they are quite there yet. Lots of promises.

I will continue afterwards if you want put the point is that many of those so called coins are really innovating and just that they are not quite there yet doesnt make them a scam.
Take these tokens as a shares of a future product, a decentralised p2p product.
Some will deliver, some will not, thats the way of life.