I really don't find the articles blames the drivers at any point. Nothing to do with the "shadiness" of drivers. I bet most don't even know the system they use gives them more tips. It's more about how there only should be one system of calculating the tip that should be acceptable because the situation is a bit unfair to the customers right now (but who cares for a couple cents right?) and even more unfair for the drivers using the other system.
ahaha yeah. The funny part is that this "conspiracy" was not even visible in any way in the original data the person found. It was just a strange spike in tips during rush hour. But then they started digging and this conspiracy-looking theory started popping up. I guess they could have stopped there :P Is that how some conspiracy theories start? But in the end, it's a very reasonable explanation of different ways to calculate tip. I don't even think one way is "better" than the other. They are just different and there should only be one system in these kind of things, mainly because it's most unfair to the drivers.