Your are correct, many work at home jobs offer little except empty promises. Much of what you will find will be online businesses, and that market is saturated with the concept of getting rich by telling others how to get rich. Trouble is, there is no real 'business' at the centre of these scams. Far better is to find a course or training and start your own business; one that offers the flexibility that an individual demands. We don't all have the same interests, time, or lifestyle. A business that is very flexible, satisfying and rewarding can be created in the publishing field. Take a look here, on the publishing page, and see if it's something that interests you: http://www.neeshenterprises.com. And when considering working at home remember that old adage: if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. With some help and training it is within most people to start and run a successful home business. It will take hard work and maybe some small investment, but you will be far better building something for yourself than working for someone else.
Good luck,
Graham