Why don't people realize that a reverse mortgage is a scam?

Sadly, large companies with big PR departments get away with expensive ads on television about the greatness of reverse mortgages and what they can do for you. The truth is all it will do for you is give you dribbles of money on your own equity while a lender has your money and just pays taxes. If you have paid off your house you can simply sell it and get all that money in hand. Don't be scammed!