Yea, but at 60x, you're effectively buying miles at 1.67 cpm which is better than buying them upfront, And if you're receiving a benefit for using your cc, it's even less. So if I use a 5% cb cc, it's 1.58 cpm, which is quite a deal IMO.
You are correct, if you are looking to buy UR points, then this is a great way to do so.
However, you were also asking if there is a way to get them for free in a roundabout way, to which I had answered that I don't see any practical way (IMO).
The only way I can think of is if you become a magazine wholesaler, selling to places like Doctor's offices etc...
In general, not just with UR, but with all reward malls (MR, AA etc..) when you look through the lists, it becomes obvious that they are carefully thought out. Places that they expect you to spend no more than a few dollars will always have the highest point ranges (Magazines.com, WSJ.com, Restaurant.com, Ink refills), and places that they expect you spend no more than a few hundred dollars will be in mid to low range. (Groupon etc..)
Places where you can potentially spend thousands of dollars will pretty much always be in the low range. (Target, Walmart, Apple, Home Depot etc...) and places where they can expect you to spend many thousands of dollars over the year, such as flights and gas will be in the very, very low range.
I say this "in general", because sometimes there are exceptions. (Such as Nordstrom with AA or BA)
Anyhow, if you do find a way around this, please do share.