2. No, you're not allowed to lie until blue in the face when selling; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_advertising is illegal. (Is it underunforced? Probably. Do I wish those laws had much stronger restrictions and harsher penalties? Yep. But is it illegal to lie to sell things? Still yes.)
(IANAL and this isn't legal advice. Though it is moral advice.)
I agree that lying and fraud by businesses, employees, buyers, and sellers are all reprehensible. Nonetheless, I would contend there's no problem discussing the actual subject at hand without expanding it.
I'm not being hypocritical, I'm simply being topical.
As a software development manager, I find the most important quality I need in my direct reports is honesty. If you are not honest with me it makes it very difficult to do my job.
That some developers have been conditioned to dishonesty is a shame on our industry.