Since Congress has never passed legislation providing a bright line test between 1099 and W-2, the IRS uses fuzzy rules favoring W-2 over 1099 when they have doubts.For example, if you want perceived freedom, choose 1099.

Use precise numbers on your final offer so it is perceived as well calculated and your bottom offer6.

c) if they did do it on purpose, what do you think they are trying to do...perhaps extort you for relocation costs or get out of their lease early (in a way harder way than necessary), or get revenge on you for some perceived grievance?

So with that said, I appreciate your viewpoint that this may be perceived as 'blame shifting'.

Perceived cash flow and how hard will you have to work for it??

Not how far you are from your perceived goals but how far you have come from your beginning.There is a great book about this by Dan Sullivan called "The Gap" I highly recommend that you get a copy and read it.There is another phenomenon called the dip, before every great mountain your climb there is a dip.

The neighborhood may be at risk of  going down hill etc.Two points to considerThe market price, and corresponding cap rate, are based on the market's Perceived risk.For a given building, the more you pay, the lower the cap. 

Some people will try to continue with that, but I think its foolish as then you run the risk of them perceiving you to play games.On discussing values, especially if it is a condo (Im assuming these are) I always try to use the example that if I drop an 8 cylinder souped up engine into a kia, it might be something nice, but it hasnt really changed the value of the car, at least not in a meaningful way.

In Maryland we have laws to protect homeowners from what can be perceived as preditory acts.

Sometimes they have a real or perceived flaw that just scares folks away.