New coins using proof-of-stake should look to Peercoin for guidance. It's the oldest PoS coin, had no premine/developer fee. (note that it does use PoW for distribution).

> Lot of HN-ers are extremely cynical about cryptocurrencies

I think cryptocoins are great but we can all see folks dumping their money into assets that they have no hope of understanding, guided by FOMO. As a whole it seems like there's not enough cynicism.