Reading through some of the comments is interesting in that my experience with Kickstarter seems to have been --so far-- nearly polar opposites to that of others.

I have almost exclusively backed technology projects. Out of those, not one of them has failed to deliver. And, not one of them has delivered on time. Out of all the projects I have supported only one has ended-up in the trash can. However, that was not because the widget was not executed well or it was junk. It was simply a case of my idea of the utility of this gizmo failing to align with reality once I got it. No issues on my part. I've done that plenty other times even buying stuff from brick-and-mortar stores.

If I allow myself to presume about the reasons for my "success" I'll have to say that the only thing I can reasonably point to is that I have a lot of experience actually designing. manufacturing and, yes, shipping technology products. I am intimately familiar with the design, sourcing and manufacturing process (and issues) of most products that entail software, electronics and mechanical components using various technologies.

This, to me, means that I have a fairly decent "bullshit" filter when it applies to these kinds of projects. Not to pick on them, but my most recent "this is bullshit" call was the LIFX light bulb:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/limemouse/lifx-the-light...

Why did I call this BS?

You have to rewind to when the project first posted. Their pledge goal was set to $100K. A project like that could easily burn-up half a million dollars just in engineering, NRE's and regulatory testing. Very easily. In fact, my immediate thought after reviewing the project was that the project needed somewhere in the order of two million dollars.

When I see something like that I have to ask: Are the project originators truly clueless about what it might take to get the project done? I don't like to think that fraud is involved. I am one of those saps who believe that the vast majority of people are basically good. So, no fraud. Yet, $100K?

What would have happened with LIFX had they received funding just about their requested $100K goal? Say, $150K. Well, in my world that would have meant that there was no way to complete the project. No way. At least not with anything that I'd want to plug into a lightbulb socket at my house for a myriad of safety reasons.

I avoid such projects.

As it turns out, they have raised about $1.3 million. This may or may not be enough to get this done. Keep in mind that bringing in partners isn't free. COGS must include all costs.

With regards to the ARDUINO issue. I saw that project come up and immediately went to the known Arduino sites. I saw nothing promoting the project or making this connection of having an ex-Arduino manufacturer behind the Kickstarter project. So, I stayed clear.

I see the relationship between Kickstarter and their vendors very much like that of a shopping mall owner and the stores it might house. Imagine that one of the stores decides to sell counterfeit Gucci bags or defraud people in some other way. I can't see the mall owner as being guilty of the crime being committed. If a direct nexus is established, well, then, that's a different story.

I also see the buyer as having to be responsible for the decision they make. If someone sells you a perpetual motion machine and you were not smart or informed enough to realize that this can't possibly work, well, in many ways, it's your fault. Be an informed buyer. That's the only way to protect yourself.

EDIT: I should say that I like Kickstarter very much. I don't have a problem with the service. If you know what you are doing both as either a project originator or a project backer, it's wonderful.