John,
Perhaps not a scam because people willingly roll with this.
I guess it's how you interpret the story of the Pied Piper.
One way to look at is that the Pied Piper (TPG) is pulling the rats away from the hobby and the tune ($$$) is too harmonious for people to turn a deaf ear to.
Oh, not to offend any one here. I'm guessing a lot of pure hobbyist are hoping that at some point this whole mess comes crashing down and everyone runs for cover and dumps it all and people that love this for the hobby it was can again pick up the card board for the pleasure of having it for what it is and not the monetized abomination it's become.
Hey, let us at least dream...
