I agree with your statements regarding this ad. It's a BAD ad. But I don't think the problem is with QR as you seem to imply in your headline. In fact, MOST of the problems with the ad are with design, and copy writing. Clients use bad marketing devices and make poor design choices ALL the time. But just because people don't use the tool well, I don't think we can blame the tool.
A few years ago everyone and their dog was doing "opt in e-mail newsletters". And most of them sucked, and were done all wrong. But that doesn't mean that opt-in e-mail sucks. It just means that people are idiots.
TheAmyTucker thepsychobabble My M did that too. And I KNOW consistancy and crap, but at 3 am all I'm thinking is SLEEEEPPPPP!!!! I cannot parent at 3 am. Especially when said child didn't go to bed until 1 am. Hell half the time I don't even wake up. I broke her of the habit with a bribe. It worked. But she was 8. So yah. Not helpful. Just saying I feel you, and I'm RIGHT THERE WITH you. (but with a 9 year old, and no husband, so maybe it's a little easier.)