This project will probably be more successful if it can tie into BOINC, which grew out of SETI@Home, and has several hundred thousand computers working on various projects. It'll be a lot easier to get people already donating time/resources to donate to this than starting from the ground up.
But you are right about the why? I admit I personally do Folding@Home most of the time, because EVGA gives you up to $10 to spend at EVGA a month by participating, or Boardgamegeek gives badges and some currency to to spent on their site. Which in EVGAs case, has made it so I basically only buy EVGA products now as I have a bunch of EVGA bucks to spend there.
But you are right about the why? I admit I personally do Folding@Home most of the time, because EVGA gives you up to $10 to spend at EVGA a month by participating, or Boardgamegeek gives badges and some currency to to spent on their site. Which in EVGAs case, has made it so I basically only buy EVGA products now as I have a bunch of EVGA bucks to spend there.