I can remember people telling me that there was no way 2000 was coming in this system--back in 1996. There was talk toward the end of 1994 that this system wasn't going to make it past 1995. I remember when 1998 came, and people were thinking that this system had negative time left (in other words, it should have already gone). In 1987, they were talking about how this system was going to end any minute now, which meant that people that were not yet in had better get in now. And in 1989, they were telling us to take a good look at the Crapmorial table since this could easily be the last one.
People were suckered in. They failed to set aside money (or worse yet, they failed to plan to make any in the first place) since they were sure that it would become worthless very soon. I don't know how many went into debt to pioneer since the end was so close and they wouldn't have to pay it off (that was a major problem in 1975). Interestingly, they told us that the people went into debt for material wants, not to quit their jobs and pioneer. Most of those people are in a pickle now, since they cannot go back to make it all up. Notably, the ones that were supposed to go to college but gave that up between 1969 and 1975 are now in their 50s, with janitor jobs, and no retirement. They are going to have to work well into their 80s, if they live that long (and then they are supposed to will it all to the Puketower Society).