That's because Facebook doesn't just employ privileged engineers making big money, but an army of staff that won't do just fine if their employer fucks them over. Neither you, nor me, and certainly no public service officer can draw the line. That's why the government should force businesses to treat all employees with a modicum of respect, and prevent corporations from doing stuff like Facebook did here.

If FaceBook does it, then the shady startup offering "30k + fake options" to new employees can do it too. FaceBook is setting an awful precedent.

They would have been privileged FB employees. But with the offer cancelled maybe they are not so privileged anymore? They could be new grads that never were on the gravy train.