Because the original posts about it talked about replacing almost all meals with it, to the extent that it included a description of how replacing almost all meal with it caused Rhinehart to almost stop defecating.
And because it's easier to get media interested in a story they can title "The end of food" or "The Man Who Would Make Food Obsolete" (recent Atlantic headline) rather than "Yet another meal replacement".
And because a marketing aspect of Soylent is the idea that even if you probably won't replace every meal with it, you can.
(For my part I'm interested in it to try replacing some meals - certainly not all - but that angle would certainly make for a whole lot less PR interest)
That said, when my month's supply arrives, I'm looking forward to giving up food for a month entirely in favor of brown paste. I see it as a fun opportunity for an interesting cleanse --not a permanent lifestyle change.
Every report I've read from people trying out a 100% Soylent diet has been consistent: You feel fine. Your jaw gets stiff from underuse (chewing gum is recommended). You poop less and less often. The biggest problem is really social awkwardness. Eating with people is important. It's awkward being the guy at the table with a bottle of brown paste.
I had not heard of this side effect. I would have thought that regular talking would have sufficed. Very interesting!
Wasn't that it's original pitch? I'm pretty sure that when the Soylent guy first started talking about his idea the Unique Selling Point, compared to all the other meal replacement products already out there, was that Soylent would be the first product engineered to completely and permanently replace the need for any other food.
It's similar to stories about electric cars. Someone will always comment about how electric cars won't work for people who have to drive 500 km non stop on a daily basis, therefore they are doomed to failure.