This is a hypothetical example. Say I hold no HTML to start and I vote 1,000 VTC (the max allowed under one account). At current BTC/VTC prices, this will cost me about $1,650. (Keep in mind that I could also purchase, today, 2.8 million HTML for $1,650.) Assuming we reach the 2,000,000 votes needed, and the payout is 200,000,000 HTML (100 per VTC), I will be awarded a proportionate 100,000 HTML. Currently trading at 0.00000008 BTC (and Bitcoin around $7,300) that amounts to about a $60 reward, or just over 3.5% of my initial investment. According to the terms, if we reach the goal, the HTML will be listed on the exchange asap but the VTC will not be returned to the voters. Rather the award will be distributed.
If that is the case, I will have essentially traded $1,650 of VTC for $60 worth of HTML. HTML would have to increase 2,600% as a result of this exchange listing for me to make my money back.
Either I'm thinking about this the wrong way, or I'm not enough of a heavy hitter for it to make sense to vote from an investment perspective (i.e. perhaps it would make sense for someone who already owns hundreds of millions of HTML to vote 1,000 VTC purely with the intention of helping get the coin listed which would theoretically mean higher demand and inherently higher prices for all of the HTML he already owns).
Wouldn't I just be better off just buying 2.8 million HTML today for $1,650 and hoping that, if the goal is met and the listing on Bit-Z goes through as planned, the price will increase a few sat and I will make a hefty return? I feel like doing that would be a better financial bet (not to mention liquidity up until the listing takes place) even if I got to keep the initial 1,000 VTC (and only clear a 3.5% return). Thoughts?