If it makes you feel any better, 4816 kWh would have cost me $1099 in Massachusetts.
Don't feel too bad, that would cost approx 2,500 here in Hawaii!
you know I was going to ask if anyone here was doing Gridcoin? But, if you did, than you'd have to join (Xcoin) group. I was just reading that Seti is asking for gridcoin donations. So, not only do you get to crunch, but turn around and donate your coins as well! Wow, a win win. LOL...
But, I hear ya. I think it does take away the spirit of competition. Tho, on the other hand, I suspect that these coin groups, don't give you 100% of the profit, and they while you crunch for a project 50% of the time maybe you crunch for coin mining the other 50%? So... you really aren't giving all your resources to the project. But......... in one way, you are still doing some work for science, and in another way, some of the kickback (money being made by ones effort) can go to paying for power and computer upgrades.
I was looking at BitCoin with the hardware I have, I think I would make 7 bucks a day, withe all my resources 100% going to mining. Not bad, but my system would be on and used 100% of the time. for a 2.5K dollar computer I would need to mine for about a year solid, and then if the BitCoin kept the same value you would get your cash back. I guess, considering if you could convert you coin to dollars. Shrug.
I think if it furthers along the research, and makes more people join a good cause... That's the whole point right? When do we see AnandCoin? LOL!