Relentless resourcefulness is the phrase.
If you're pushing the boundaries of ethics, you have to realize that what is considered acceptable in one (sub) culture may be grossly unacceptable in another.
What is considered "business as usual" in one culture or industry will be seen as corruption in another culture or industry.
Now, there are a lot of inconsistencies and hypocrisies in our cultures. So, if you look around, you're bound to find strange inconsistencies. That's normal.
In short, for any culture, there are some forms of cheating that will be mostly tolerated or even glamorized, and others that will be seen as despicable.
What you've described is despicable, from a mainstream US / Canadian / Anglo perspective. It does not appear resourceful, at all.
I.e. is it "cool, those guys are smart and they're bucking the system" or is it "these guys are slimy and I never want to do business with them."
Again, I'm not condoning unethical behavior, nor am I so naive to believe that it isn't widespread. I'm just stating that what is a "nudge-nudge-wink-wink-everyone-does-it" infraction versus what is a "omg, you lying bastards" is culturally relative.
The OP's example falls into the "lying bastards" category for me, and for most of the companies I've worked for.