I found Soylent incredibly useful recently when I went through a bout of gastro.
It was easy to keep down, and this way I knew I was at least getting some nutrients in.
I don't use Soylent as a day-to-day meal. I use it when I am rushing around, and the alternative is McDonalds. The way I see it.
1. It's a fixed 500 calorie intake
2. It's reasonably balanced nutritionally
3. It doesn't have useless junk I don't need (extra oil/fat, preservatives, extra sugar/flavouring etc.).
A lot of people seem to say, oh, but what if you miss XYZ nutrient, or, what if there is this other secret nutrient in fresh food you don't have.
My question to you is - do you think KFC or McDonalds would have these secret nutrients? Or that the fried-chicken and chips meal you get at the local takeout, or the oily chinese takeout you buy on lazy nights if somehow better for you?
If the alternative is other sorts of so-called fast foods - then yeah, I'm going to take the Soylent.
Also, people talk about how preparing wholesome, healthy fresh food takes no time...bollocks.
When you have a one-year old in your hands crying, you're rushing to pack her bags for daycare, you have another scamp running around chasing the cat (whom you still need to feed, by the way) - the last think you want to do is warm up the stove, cut some veggies, and make up a stir-fry. You want to shove two scoops of powder, shake it with some water and glug it down.
Not to mention shopping for groceries.
Yes, I love cooking - but I'd like to do it as a enjoyable thing, when I have time/energy. Not something I need to do, even when I'm exhausted, because the alternative is starving, or greasy takeout.