Adzeth: I think Kickstarter sounds like a great idea, but it hasn't actually "done" anything that great yet. Certainly a lot of money was raised for Double Fine's adventure game, but they haven't actually made the game, and it isn't guaranteed to succeed even now. Wasteland 2 seems to be getting its funding too, but that's still just an announcement of a game that's (probably) coming.
Exactly, backing a Kickstarter is a lot closer to charity to normal business practice, you are giving money hopping that the project will be one day completed.
But basically there is no guarantee; I was happy to give money to Doublefine but I am perfectly aware that it's pure charity, hopefully the game will be released and hopefully it will be great but also maybe it wont... or worse maybe it will never be released at all.
After all unlike a "real" contract between a developer and it's backer with kickstarter there is nothing except "trust", if in X months/years DoubleFine or Brian Fargo are unable to released the promised game (out of budget or other external circumstances,etc...) well they can simply throw the towel and you just lose your money.