Prohormones DO work, not to the extent of steroids, but work nonetheless. They convert to steroids in your body...unless we're talking about 1-test which IS a real steroid. To me, PH's are steroids; just they require conversion. You DON'T get the same side effects with PH's because they aren't nearly as severe. And finally, PH's are legal to buy and own; AAS are not.
Now, the oldschool "andro" DOES suck. Anyone who says that is absolutely right. The newer (and not so new) stuff out by people like Avant Labs, Ergopharm, Molecular Nutrition, and BDC Nutrition (Big Daddy Chemo, Anabolic Minds, masters of homebrewing, whatever) are far better than that old "andro."