Or so you would like us to believe. Most for profit crowdfunding schemes include some sort of levels that align with different benefits, (t-shirts, the product, etc.). So you are indeed "investing", as I say if you want to open a business, start small and grow it, anyone that funds anothers business is an idiot.
Guess I'm an idiot that's been extremely lucky as every Kickstarter that I've tried and was fully funded delivered a product I've been happily using. There have been a few that failed to deliver (Brew Nanny, cough, cough), but the majority that are funded do deliver. I'm not sure if you understand how Kickstarter works, but if the project doesn't get funded it's nothing out of your wallet. And how is this investing? I'm not expecting any "return" only the product that was promised. The funding levels are no different than a retail store offering extras or more savings based on the quantity or options you buy.
As to your your quote "So you are indeed "investing", as I say if you want to open a business, start small and grow it, anyone that funds anothers business is an idiot". While I respect that you do not personally support crowd-funding, I'm more than a little offended at being called an idiot and thought I'd offer up a little education on funding a small business.
Basic economics - you need capital to start and grow a business. There are a number of ways to get capital:
1) Get loans - but this usually requires a solid business plan that banks will accept, some kind of collateral and now you have to pay interest on the loan. Most banks will also limit the loan size unless you have a great deal of collateral to begin with.
2) Get investors - you can sell shares, but most private investors like to see a return on their investment. You now have external pressure that can affect business decisions, both good and bad. Venture Capitalists typically expect higher returns in a shorter time which typically growing as fast a possible which involves more capital.
3)Go small and grow it. Well that assumes it's something you can make yourself and ignores economy of scale and how it affects price points. Anytime you're delivering a physical product there is typically manufacturing and/or assembly involved. Most manufacturing companies don't deal in small quantities or if they do, charge much more per unit. This is especially true for any product that is custom manufactured as there's even more overhead for test manufacturing prototypes, creating new dies/molds, retooling lines, quality control testing, any regulatory statutes, etc. If some small business has to order a minimum of 1000 of a new product (due up front of course) and it doesn't sell, they're now out of that money. You can have a great product, but at a crappy price point because you couldn't afford to order in a large quantity to begin with.
4) Try a crowd-funding campaign. If successfully funded you've not only vetted the interest (marketing proven), but you also have enough capital for the initial order to offer a product at an attractive price point.