Here's another simple "rule of thumb": Would she have gotten the same treatment after applying OP's suggestions (saying "No, thanks, I'll drive!") ? If not, then I feel that finally calling shenaningans is the right response.
And, again, quid bono ? She certainly did, a bunch of people who would never ever read her column now just gave her a bunch of pageviews.
She probably would, at the next booth. And the next, and the next[1]. At what point are you going to stop blaming her for other people's idiocy?
btw, it's "Cui bono" - the literal translation being "who benefits"?
[1] - Actually, it did, if you read the article:
It happened during one of my first appointments of the
show, a half hour I’d booked to check out the sequel to a
well-known military shooter franchise.
..later..
It continued to happen through the next few days of E3.
Upon checking into a booth, I would often be asked by the
PR rep whether I wanted someone to play my “hands-on” demo
for me. During booth tours, I would more often than not be
guided towards the Facebook games.
And, again, quid bono ? She certainly did, a bunch of people who would never ever read her column now just gave her a bunch of pageviews.