Nah, it wasn't a planned scam.
It's been a problem for years... that dial being vulnerable to bumps. The 10D through 50D, both 5Ds and 7D all have the same problem. Probably some earlier models too, that I'm forgetting or never used.
The 1D series use buttons instead of a dial. The Rebel/xxxD series have the dial on the other "shoulder" of the camera, where it's less prone to getting bumped.
Some of the older film cameras had simple little locking buttons on dials, seemed sensible to do the same on the modern DSLRs.
Finally, Canon heard their users complaints and added the locking dial to the 60D. And it just so happens it can be retrofitted to 7D and 5D Mark II, too (but not any other models, AFAIK).
Cost, I dunno... Seems a little high. I'll have to price the parts. It's probably less than an hour's work to swap it out. Probably 5 or 10 minutes after doing the first one and learning how. With three cameras needing it, I might do the conversion myself, if the kit of parts isn't too expensive.
Meanwhiles, black graffer tape doesn't look bad (and peels back easily to allow changing the settings).