You can make your own tiltshift photos at tiltshiftmaker.com without having to buy a thousand dollar lens.

How is this a rip off? Just because they make you a low ball offer doesn't make it a scam. I am guessing the author of the article would also describe selling your used car to a car dealer, the guy making an offer on your house under asking price, and any other good or service where you negotiate the final price a rip-off unless they gave you exactly what you thought it was worth. Even if you are dumb enough to accept the first offer without having done any research into what you had, it's still not a rip-off.