In under-regulated capitalism, prices aren't set at what's fair, they're at the maximum that they can get away with without losing too many sales/clients.

That's by definition overpaying from the perspective of the buyer/client.

Plus, if we're being pedantic

We are indeed. Carry on, good sir/madam/cuttlefish

burning the money isn't spending it, which is what he is supposed to do.

Damn, you got me there. Good point 😁

The movie

Again, I was referring to the meme only, not the movie that inspired the premise

also has the advantage of having a contract that presumably covers any other loopholes the audience thinks of

That's a mountain sized presumption..

Once you take it out of a movie and start treating it like a challenge to be solved, you can no longer hide behind some unseen fine print.

Good. Genies have had it too good for too long 😛