Hyoerloop is not a scam just because The con man proposed it with the intent of stopping a high speed rail road project.
It's a scam also because:
- the idea is not his. It's 100 years old and has been tackled by other before him.
- it's impossible to be build from the technical point of view.
- even if you do manage to miraculously built it it won't be economically feasible.
- in the lasts years it's starting to be obvious that if it's backed by Musk it's a scam in some degree, shape or form. (see also Solar Cities, Tesla, The Loop and the Boring company, etc.)
Ok, if nobody is going to say it I'll do it: public transportation + walkable cities!
There I said it! I'm now waiting for the sky to fall on me ...