There have been reports of people winning, so I don't think it's entirely fair to call it a scam.
I think the bigger issue is the flexible rules they're using depending on the store/employee. I think they had some original rules (phone must be able to turn off and on, make calls, have data plan), but they were apparently thrown out the window when they saw the massive response from people looking to cheaply upgrade their old phones.
I hadn't seen the link you posted before, but that and my experience do seem to show that the managers seem to be subjectively deciding some of the close cases.
I wonder what will happen to any extra laptops a store has after the challenge ends tomorrow. If, perhaps, the store employees or such get them, maybe that would explain some of it. (For the record, I doubt it. But it would explain a lot.)
How is it a scam? You don't pay anything(except your time) to get into the contest and you can swap any old smartphone with a brand new phone even if you lose. Also, there have been lots of instances where they have lost.
Which is the most valuable thing I have. If someone intentionally tricks me into using my time to their benefit and my detriment, I would call that a scam.
Is it to draw people into the store so their phone can be "smoked" and feel embarassed?
Even if the store wins, they lose longer-term by their customers losing face. Some may take it with a smile and be jovial about it but a few weeks later may resent the idea of some store employee getting the better of them.
After having listened to many "win friends and customers" kind of books, this contest seems to go against all those ideals. Is the cost worth it?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57405914-71/windows-phone-...