I see where you're coming from as well Matt, don't get me wrong!
I just look at such things as this with the standpoint of "If it seems too good to be true, it generally is".
With this example in particular, there is a way to do it without becoming a casualty. It just requires that understanding of how to work it correctly. Like anything I suppose.
Yes it sucks that people that aren't generally thick will get stung at times, but common sense can so easily prevent that. These sketchy techniques are - unfortunately - how these companies can make such easy money. Which (as much as I hate to say it) is as smart as any decent, honest enterprise. Granted, it won't be sustained in the same way, but short term, they do pretty good for themselves.