Navagon: Don't forget that many projects have other backers who will fund them only if there's enough public interest (they meet their Kickstarter target). So their target might not actually be all the money they need to make the game. Or even half. Takedown is probably the most obvious example of this. But it probably also applies to many others too.
Then there's also the fact that these games haven't been made yet. We're only really hoping right now that it proves possible.
Oh, i wasn't aware of that. Anyhow, i doubt a seasoned designer would botch the budgeting calculations, or whatever it's called, but now it makes sense. Thanks for the info! :)
Call me a moron, or an optimist [though it's kinda the same], but i really can't see a reason why these kickstarters wouldn't work, unless the budgeting wasn't done right...