I am kinda new to this newsletter, and know nothing about the
PowerRoll.  However, I do have a few comments about the recent
excuses being made for the guy.

It sounds to me like Larry didn't take the risks, his customers did.
They unwittingly became the funders of the enterprise (or maybe of
something else?).  They put $ in as a purchaser of a product, not
intending to become risk takers.  They weren't intending to loan money,
or become an unwilling investor with all those inherent risks.

When you sell stuff, you gotta ship it.  When you ship it, it's
gotta work.  If it doesn't, give the customer the option of getting
his money back, or hanging on.  It is the law.  You can't not ship and
not deliver a working product, and keep the money, too.  They have
nasty words for that.  Above all, legally and morally you have to be
honest with your customers.  No bovine spoor about "shipping next week,
after you send me more $."

Paul Eggert