Hanlon's razor would suggest more likely its not malice, but the problem with Apples smart devices having mutual "we know the UUID of this chipset" problems and changing the bits has stopped it being prepared to run. Apple have some reset mechanism, which they are meant to share with authorised repair units, but it's costly (as I understand it) and basically they use price as a forcing function to make you go to an Apple store. Usually, this is about replacement parts for iPhones and iPads but I see no reason why a Studio Display wouldn't have the same internal logistics.

(Microsoft were doing this early in Windows 7 licence-for-this-hardware, change videocard, have to call Seattle)

or, they're incompetent. Nice, but incompetent.