I'm probably missing something, but the exploit was all about filling up a Starbucks gift card. It was touted as "Enough to buy an iPad", but at no point was one actually bought. The $500 card is now being eBayed for charity, which (for profit), would be one way to close the loop and get cash out, but surely that applies to any business operating a gift-card scheme.

Are you normally able to redeem these cards for cash? My (limited) experience is not only no, but sometimes the amount is rounded up to the nearest $currency_denomination as well.