Sure, a few enthusiasts will do that. But the large farms won't, so the network hashrate will be very low and susceptible to attacks making it an unsafe investment.
As Peter implied this is the test that will accelerate the process of separating the wheat from the chaff according to the value perceived in the new alt by cutting out the pump 'n dump element of launching whilst taking out (for how many is yet to be seen) the perceived injustice of premine.
It makes a 'wait and see' policy for bitcoin holders a more reasonable option because there is no fear of missing out on being a low-entry early adopter. The mad scramble at the launch of something which is seen to have potential is taken out of the equation. The direction of the movement of price after launch will quickly tell whether more perceive value in the new (or replicated) alt than who consider it not to be bringing anything substantive to the table. Whilst it does give bitcoin holders more time to decide there will still need to be enough demand in a reasonable amount of time to bring the price up to something that is attractive to miners.
At the same time, depending on how well the first spin-off launches go, like sidechain alts, this could also take everything other than play money out of the traditional alt market thus making that less attractive to miners.
Time alone will tell and one of the reasons I like the whole spin-offs idea is that it is an inexpensive experiment with not much at stake.
I bet the paupers try to sell their free coins but no one cares enough to buy them and the value immediately goes close to zero.
æthereum princes would attempt to buy up all the ɯnǝɹǝɥʇæ to preserve their position as the elite in possession of the highest valued assets. The fundamentals of the technology would have been tested already, and the æthereum princes would know ɯnǝɹǝɥʇæ was ultimately going to have a larger network effect as there are more paupers than princes. But many paupers aren't stupid, and wouldn't sell.
I think ɯnǝɹǝɥʇæ would be the new Doge
Blessed are the bitcoin poor, for they shall inherit the ɯnǝɹǝɥʇæ
Why not give it a 'spin'!
Place your bets ladies and gentlemen!
