Have you ever talked to random people outside of your circle about it? If anything people think crypto is a get-rich quick scam. I have even heard the term "pyramid scheme" from several highly educated people.
Yeah I agree with this. If you talk to normal people, you'll hear this a lot.
Here's an idea - go and give some VTC to a friend or relative the next opportunity you get. Don't try to convince them it's not a scam, don't tell them it's not a pyramid scheme if that's what they believe. Just say "I mined some of this, figured I'd give you a bit now while it's cheap - if it goes up a lot, it'll be a nice gift", leave it at that.
I'm going to do it the next opportunity I get.