Your ideas of scams are kind of scuffed tbh. Most people who go for collector's shit what the crap that comes with these special editions. They are paying for the statues and art books and other shit that get thrown in randomly and are less concerned with the actual game disc. And it isn't like they don't get the game either. They still get the game and hell they even get an extra copy to give away to comeone. So while you might not be happy about not getting a disc, you are not getting scammed.
It is a scam when you're not getting the physical version of the game. If you're going to overcharge all these items and bonuses, than at least give me the game that comes with it. That's how special editions worked back then, and it shouldn't be any different now. You got the bonuses that came with the actual physical cartridge or disc. What is so goddamn hard about that? Nothing's hard, they just don't want to put in the effort to it. This is the crap I'm talking about when you make excuses for dickery like this. If a product like this is between $150 to $300+ dollars, and all you get is a code that comes with bonuses, then I might as well just buy the game itself and and not even bother. I have gotten stuff with bonus additions, but guess what? They all came with the actual game too! Imagine that! Not some stupid code for the game!
Once again, this is nothing more than FOMO for collectors and completionists. Don't even get me started on the scalpers once they start getting copies of these, and charge them more than three times the asking price. Sony can afford to make physical versions, with all the boasting they have been doing, but they just don't want to do it. Laziness for the sake of laziness.
By the way,
@CriticalGaming,
@hanselthecaretaker,
@FakeSympathy, &
@Chimpzy, I highly suggest you watch that video I just posted it earlier. The one about Limited Run Games.