What I would like to know is: has there been another time when a startup announced a huge deal, was subject to a deluge of negative opinion, and it turned out that the skeptics were right?

Let's be honest -- there's a lot of hate going around, as there tends to be when many startups go big and experience success.

I, for one, am skeptical about Groupon -- as are many here. But, in reading the comments, I am having a tough time separating the genuine skepticism from the generic hate. Both claim to be basing their opinions on rational, informed analysis.