No, not quite, in a Ponzi scheme the first few tiers get there money back.
The Germans are more accurate in describing it as a multi-level marketing scheme.
I understand that you have a closer perspective on it than I do.
Yes. Lucky you.
I consider it a religion because it deals with one's spiritual nature and relationship to the universe as such.
That being said, I do NOT say that it is a "good" religion, it is about as amoral a religion as a religion can be.
And an amoral religion run by inherently flawed and intrinsically evil people is...?