It isn't "krafty" and RIM/blackberry isn't pulling a fast one.

Blacberrys are different. The device is not a commodity. It is the hardware tool to access and use the blackberry services, which require a blackberry-specific data plan as opposed to the service provider's regular mobile data service. That's the way it is if you want the blackberry service. If you don't need it, then you don't need it.

See blackberryfaq.com and the article on using a blackberry on a generic mobile data plan. If that doesn't work for you and you don't need and don't want a blackberry data plan, then you would be advised to look for a better solution for your needs.