If a certain project in DeFi or any ecosystem is being listed today, the devs will say it's basically built around virtual finance or just to make the finance sector better. But at the end of the day, the last thing someone sees is listing it and people buying and selling it. Is the money they made what they will use to build the influence of the main reason it was launched, or what? I asked this question because many new projects I've seen so far, on paper, look good with their aim and objective.
You forgot to mention that it always turns out later that a project is nothing more than a scam to raise money from investors of all backgrounds. I've been following the crypto space since the beginning of the altcoin season in 2017, and I'm no longer surprised by the failure of many, or even most, projects. I'm no longer impressed by new projects, no matter how unique the concept may seem. The developers of these projects are merely employees or contributors to a project with an illusory concept that may appear beautiful on paper, but the implementation doesn't matter because no one will ask questions. Anyone who embarrasses you with a question can be accused of ignorance and lack of experience.
There's a simple criterion: Don't believe any project that isn't capable of presenting a product prototype. Most of the projects you see are unable to implement a prototype, and the community doesn't ask questions. What matters to the community is that the token is tradeable, and it doesn't matter what happens next.