I can see the advantage for the user (25% of the BTC mined), and I can see the advantage for 21 (75% of the BTC mined) and Intel (sell some chips). But what's the incentive for the electronics manufacturer in embedding these BitSplit chips? If they're not getting a cut and they're not being paid, why would they integrate a chip even if it's free? The downside risk of embedding a chip that may become obsolete, break down, or negatively impact energy efficiency surely outweighs the marketing benefit of saying '21 inside'.
Why is 25% a benefit? If these chips profitably mined bitcoins, it would make sense to run them yourself rather than give them away. 25% isn't going to cover the electricity used.
21 will surely dole out some of their 75% cut to hardware integration partners as a distribution fee. The ripoff here is for anyone ignorant enough to run one of these devices.
The way I read it, the 25% is not going to the user directly. It just simply goes into an account the manufacturer controls and is earmarked for the user. The user will only be able to spend it as the manufacturer allows. This is more along the lines of Google Opinion Rewards rather than being part of a mining group.
I have to wonder how they're going to market these things to people without breaking any consumer laws. It seems like you'd almost have to trick people into using them for any extended period of time (like after they get their first electric bill), which will make them a prime target for lawsuits, Attorneys General of every state, the FTC, Congress, etc.
