Even if it's unfounded, bitcoin already gets too much flak for seeming like a pyramid scheme. Isn't actually turning it into a pyramid scheme the last thing we need?
Keep in mind, the tech is solid, the only way to kill bitcoin at this point is through bad press. We don't need more bad press.
I'm actually getting tired of having to defend triplemining from being called a pyramid scheme. We are one of the only pools that returns everything to the members, where you see some other pool owners running off with 3,4,5 % of the pool income (With deepbit leading this), and yet there nobody complains.
But the moment that you redistribute some of the pool income based on work, you are called a Ponzi schemer.
I really have nothing to gain by you joining or leaving, my income stays the same: 0 BTC.