Are altcoins just another way of crowdfunding? As an investor, this is my general view of most altcoins. I see it as more of an investment into business models that I feel will help shape our future as a society. What are your thoughts?
Your thoughts is right. Most of the new altcoins are really a "business models that will help shape our future as a society". There New coins that are at the ICO crowdsale level and if you study they white paper very well you will find out that there are there to better our society and resolve some past issues we have.
But the Altcoins are supposed to be currencies and not investment models but it seems most Altcoins are just interested in crowdfunding and eventually the investors get scammed if the coin turns into a shitcoin.