sheesh...if true I call 'scam' as well or pyramid scheme is more apt...(new money drives price up because old money used and/or can't get spent)
Why would it be a scam just because of that?
As an investor, I like that feature. It creates more long term stakeholders. The more people that are vested in the success of the coin the better, and as you said... there is less downward pressure on the market which means it takes less new money to drive the price up. To me those are good things not bad things, but I do understand some people may not like being locked in for a year or more. That is how I invest in cryptocurrencies anyways... long term investments, so it doesn't bother me I guess.