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Yes, they can, but
I think it only seems to help people transition to a vegan diet because they won't last anyway (they will go back to eating meat sooner or later) if they don't develop compassion for the animals, to make it short.
It's a good thing people "try veganism" - for whatever reason really, the animals won't care - and you could argue these products help more people try it, but I do also think a lot of them will quit - and in their head they'll remember the negative experience of: it being too expensive (vegan burger more expensive compared to McD, it being too much hassle (ain't nobody got time fo' that), or to mediocre-tasting (shit TSP / TVP products from the supermarket etc.) - so this can actually be counterproductive.Alternatively they could eat hundreds of asian / indian dishes that are vegan anyway, taste awesome, and are not expensive and easy to cook -
and leave with the feeling of "this tasted awesome - I didn't even miss eating an animal at all, actually", rather than "this was somewhat ok, but it doesn't really compare to the real thing".
salad-
It doesn't have to be one or the other in my opinion. I think i disagree with the premise that most (or a significant percentage) will go back to eating meat. I think it is a net positive.
Also from my perspective, if you can capture a percentage of the meat eaters meals and make them not include meat, then that is a success also.
jb000
I see your point but investment in this will mean that it does taste as good / similar to real meat and it will also bring the price down.
So people who want to be ethical but are lazy / can't imagine their diets without meat can become vegan