Want to make sure I understand right. Usually when threads are changed and something is left out it is bad, but...
-staggered block rewards: blocks 0-500:25 eCoins, 501-1000: 50 eCoins, 1001-2000:75 eCoins, 2001+:100 eCoins (resuming normal halving schedule after reaching 100 eCoin block rewards
So, there was no premine and early blocks were a little smaller, that's correct?
Are there some negatives people are aware of, aside from distribution not so great?
Correct, no premine and early blocks were small. You can check this yourself by going to a cdn blockchain explorer and start inspecting transactions from block 1.
Negatives are the same as for any other smaller coin. Trying to get adoption and growing the community. As long as the community keeps putting in the effort (and we have a small but strong core community) the coin will continue growing. I know the current main dev for this coin personally and I can tell you he is not out to just make his money and dump/disappear.