I’ve noticed a trend (among TT games and other product categories), of established companies using Kickstarter. Mostly I think they use it as a hype machine/pre-order system, but that doesn’t quite feel like the ethos behind Kickstarter. Full disclosure, I have backed some of these myself!
A few examples (some are on Kickstarter-adjacent sites)
I prefer Gamefound now. Because they at least have terms for guaranteed fulfillment or you get refunded. And they have payment plans if it gets expensive (like Firefly the Game 10th anniversary).
As for established companies using them (like CMON, Celophair, etc), I suppose I don’t mind it too much because it is actually easier for me to get what I want since I don’t have a local game shop I trust to ever get these things in (I’ve tried, and they always disappoint in some way).
Companies will use platforms to their fullest advantage. Path of least resistance to maximum profit. Kickstarter and the like, provide that, and especially Kickstarter means if they don’t fulfill, there’s very little we as consumers can do about it.
