Backer rewards are (if they meet their funding goal) "You will get ___". If I don't receive it, then they should refund me. I'm not throwing money away for the sheer whim of "backing" people who won't give me my reward - I expect the reward.
I care if they deliver or not! I paid money! If they don't deliver, then they stole from me.
That was poorly phrased. I meant, it's not about pre-paying for a product, it's about funding something you believe will be awesome if it's created, and if it is created, getting access to it in some way.
It's totally about pre-paying for a product or service. To think anything else is very naive. You really think all those people were just wanted to believe in something awesome - no they wanted that Pebble watch or that Dresden Dolls album.
I don't see Kickstater or its surrogate crowdfunding tool going truly mainstream until after someone devises a legal mechanism to hold projects accountable for taking the money and running.
