There is a gulf between an outright scam; and promises of a future that may never be.
Exactly. The same could be said for BTC, weren't we supposed to be at $10,000 coin now or something? Must be a scam....
BTC does all it set out to. How widely adopted it is; or how high its exchange rate is, are expectations others place upon it. ETH on the other hand has yet to become its promise. Granted ETH aims at a much more difficult goal than BTC.
This is true, but the point was just because Ethereum has "yet to become its promise" does not mean it is a scam.
My issue is with the word scam being tossed around all the time. According to many that post here, if something isn't released in perfect condition with any and every foreseen and unforeseen problem already accounted for and coded in, and unless it instantly skyrockets in value, but never even once falls, it is a scam.
Many members view any alt with premine as a scam. Nothing you say will change their mind.