I think you might be missing one important point: the massive ICO and the massive BTC trading volume of the past 24 hours demonstrate enormous, untapped interest in blockchain 2.0 technology - in cyptocurrency applications that go beyond just exchanging value through coins transfers.

Given the remarkable demonstration of the market's interest in this, VIA's dev would seem to have a very strong *pecuniary* interest in adding value to his VIAcoin holdings - no? - as well as burnishing his reputation as a blockchain 2.0 pioneer. A reputation like that in the years to come will be worth a fortune. A reputation as a scammer - eh, not so much.

Scammers are generally short-sighted in that they dont recognise that there's a lot more money to be made in meeting/exceeding people's expectations/interests/needs than in scamming people. Via's dev has to realise that this coin could reach the level of DRK and XC at their heights - and beyond - if he delivers on even part of the promise.

I don't know much about this dev, but what little I've read and seen suggests to me that he is not stupid and short-sighted.

I wouldn't say your criticisms are FUD - just that they're perhaps a bit premature. The market's judgement seems to be that, after watching him develop and lead one of the smoothest and most successful ICOs ever, it's willing to wait and see what else this dev can do before jumping to conclusions.