wchurchill - how exactly is this different to what's happening today?
Given that there's really very little of the technological innovation that you describe happening today - there's a lot of 'cheaper', but comparatively little 'new', I think the pyramid description is a perfectly apt and revealing one.
As to understanding the implications of pyramid marketing, versus speculation, versus "bubbles", there is plenty to read and gain insight. It doesn't matter to me if you and das monde choose to confuse them.