I'd rather invest in a HYIP (very risky, but don't gamble more than what your willing to lose) at the of the day i will get my share. Cloud mining is not profitable and most professional bitcoiners know this.
As it's hardly profitable to have your own rig right now, how could it be profitable to rent one. That said, the margin would be so small that it is just a waste of money and time imo.
it's true. it's a terrible investment. i can see why people get duped into it, since they don't want to buy/build/operate their own rigs. but they must not do the math....
New people to the bit coin world are particularly susceptible. I know I made the same mistake when I got in. Luckily my math inclined wife helped me break down the numbers and realize they were not a good deal.
In the end the smartest move seems buy & hold. Very boring for a beginner (like me) as bitcoin is mistakingly seen as a easy money making heaven.