But how can you tell one from the other? I'm sure many an entrepreneur has sworn up and down that they are in this for long haul and will never sell out, right up until the point where someone shows up with a large bag of cash.

Giving money to a small startup is always a gamble, and if all you've bought is access to a web app then you have to take into consideration that they can take that away from you at any time.

There has been speculation that Lala was losing money and needed an out. So the service might have been close to its end anyhow.

But I do agree that I dislike the attitude of build to flip. I think most of the startups from the pre-recession era that worked with this "go big & flip" ideal are now showing their cards though. When the business model is to keep raising money until you sell, after the VC runs out they head for the hills...