Actually, the amount of energy absorbed by a typical cell phone is 0.0000001% of the total signal strength. Absorption rate is directly proportional to the size, density and material makeup of the object. A cell phone itself would absorb such a minuscule amount of energy that it wouldn't be missed. They already do that to a degree now anyways. The biggest offenders in the area of energy absorption is trees, buildings, cars, people, etc. Cell phones are small beans in the greater picture. So if these did have the wireless power thing, they wouldn't really change the current signal conditions.
A couple of generations ago, people were less gullible and more careful with their money. Surplus cash flow and ease of income has made people lax, and thus more easily conned. It's a funny thing really. The more money someone has, and the more comfortable someone becomes, the easier they seem to be conned. If you're not comfortable with your current money situation, you're a whole lot harder to sucker.