"If you think it's "lame", then don't use the software. Simple."
This is the same mentality of people who say "If you don't like the policy on Iraq, then you can just leave the country. America, love it or leave it."
And that logic doesn't work any better here.

If you took a poll and asked people how they first heard about the ecommerce program they are currently using, I bet search engine would rank pretty low.

Plus I don't think you are going to get much of a boost in the search engines with this footer at the bottom of low ranking store checkout pages. And through artifically trying to manipulate the rankings, it seems to be creating some ill will among certain people. Which probably counteracts whatever benefit you may get from a higher ranking.

Hopefully for the Uberteam, working on the project is your passion. If it is your passion then in the end, through your hard work and dedication you will end up with a most awesome and Uber ecommerce system and the universe will contrive to reward you handsomely.

If you need proof, just look at Drupal.