/sigh @ how many times supposedly intelligent people have thrown around the term 'scam' in this thread - get over yourselves.
Criticize the design to your hearts content, healthy debate is fine but don't go after a guy who has simply solicited investment for an idea - his personal identity is well known (I understand some of you have met him) and he has done nothing to warrant calling scam.
I wonder how economic development would have progressed historically if everyone thought onboarding investors was such a tangible evil.
How about the fact that his project is illegal in multiple ways?
He's directly issuing a virtual currency in exchange for real money. Sound familiar?
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/28/liberty-reserve-arthur-budovsky-arrested-spainThere's a reason Satoshi Nakamoto didn't reveal his true identity.
If you take investors money for an asset that is actually illegal in the first place, will the SEC prosecute you for that too? Likely yes, especially if you've raised as much as Mr. Willet has.
So really how can you call this anything other than a scam? If he doesn't flee with the money to another country he's going to jail eventually.