Like you, I pledged my $75 and am still waiting for my reward. However, I have no problem waiting for my fulfilment. I understood that the risks were great, and that I was backing a project who’s aims were the production of an alternative to Polaroid T55, to be available as long as there is a market for it.
I assume that the combination of materials, chemistry, processes, machinery, and facilities used to produce this film is a lot more exacting than baking a cake- if it were simple, then I’m sure I would have had my cake already, and eaten it. As a backer, I was not buying a cake, I was pledging my support in building a bakery, so that I could have my cake whenever I felt like it.
I don’t think people should back someone else’s project unless they can afford to, and unless they share the passion of those who are risking a lot more to bring an idea to fruition, as outlined by the aims of the project, and are willing to share those risks to the extent of their pledge. All projects entail some risk; unless a kickstarter project already has a product boxed and ready to ship, you should be prepared to go along for the ride.
Kickstarter is, to some extent, entertainment- just as a visit to Vegas is entertainment. You’re paying to be part of it, and barring those few projects which are so badly run so as to verge on fraud, there is usually some kind of payout, in the end. The risks and challenges section should not be overlooked when you’re preparing to make your pledge, and that’s something you won’t find printed on a Blackjack table. Those who have an idea they think is worth pursuing will often be risking far more than those faces in the crowd who contribute the relatively small amounts which enable the project to go forward. If you want to be sure of a return, perhaps putting your money in a carefully selected bank would be the better option.
I welcome the frequent updates, and I look forward to my film- which I expect will be an improvement on the film shipping now, due to their continuing R&D. I may never be able to buy it in sufficient quantities to be able to understand its nuances, but as somebody who appreciates the qualities of the original film I was happy to be able to contribute to the development of its replacement, and look forward to a future where I will be able to buy it fresh again, someday…
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