It could be worse. I've heard stories about people driving up with all their possessions to move in to a house they've rented over the internet sight unseen only to find it was a scam and the owner has no idea who they are! Who would do that???

Speaking as a landlord, I think application fees are scandalous. Given a year's lease is at least $20,000, I'm willing to eat the $30 that it costs me to run credit on a couple. It's just a cost of doing business even if someone ghosts me afterwards, as has happened. The pre-qualifying application system on Zillow does seem pretty fair however.