It’s common for car companies when they enter a new market. It removes uncertainty from the second hand market.

By doing that, you know upfront what the value of your used hardware will be at the time you decommission it. It removes a lot of the risk for buyers in a volatile market.

Fraudulent, I wouldn't say so. Anti-consumer or anti-competitive? Sounds like.

Would you call a trade-in a fraudulent tactic?

The Grift Economy places all legalities on the marks and their inability to form legal fights.

Sounds like capitalism at its finest.