Datum can never be successful because all of their assumptions on which their reasoning is based are faulty.
How so? What assumptions do you question? The general idea seems to be viable imo.
The crypto-economics are wrong.
No-one wants a new database that only stores user data.
No-one wants to get paid to see advertisements.
well, I for one would use such an offer if the rewards were high enough. also, it is not only about watching ads.
You wouldn't, you wouldn't have enough free time to waste doing it - this has already been tried in the past. They used to give out free computers if people were willing to watch advertisements, what happened is that people scammed that system, the scammers were higher than the real users, it doesn't work out. There no way any of what Datum is doing can work out due to the bad actors who will game the system., ie, the people who care don't matter and the people who matter don't care.
The people who matter, the people Datum want's are too busy with other things, like doing their PHD or something else.