I disagree. How did you come to the conclusion that such behavior benefits freelancers? It certainly doesn't benefit the person doing the actual work, not to the tune the "farmer/flipper/whatever" is raking in through deception. If I hire a skilled person, I do not want someone else doing the work.
How is accepting a job and then having someone else do the work without informing the client ethical? Just because you can do something doesn't make it ethical, right, or even legal. The "farmer" is intent on hiding the facts; why? Because they know quite well, it will anger the clients who will go elsewhere.
The "farmer" can form an agency or be ethical and honest about having others do the work. In any other business, this can bring big trouble. And what of the "farmee"? Not only are they doing the work for far less than they should receive, but they also have no history. If they switch to being a freelancer in their name, they have no profile.
Also, how are the payments arranged? One "farmer," told me she paid them under the table, and no one knows.
I have encountered several "farmers"; all three were using people in countries outside the U.S. where the income level is very low. Rather like colonization through the Internet. The "farmers" don't want partners or an agency; they want cheap labor. Attempts at justification by saying it helps the poor freelancer by giving them pennies fall far short. The "farmee" may not be locked in the factory, but a sweat shop it remains.
If playing bait and switch with clients is a great idea, why do the "farmers" never tell what they are doing? These kinds of practices harm the reputation of freelancers and the platform. If you are not doing the work, it is, at the least, highly unethical, and I will never work with or recommend anyone who uses deceptive practices.
