So the anonymous owners of these companies are actually disgustingly taking advantage of the US patent system not to make a profit but simply express its brokenness and to encourage reform?

That's a good conspiracy theory :)

Actually, the way he repeated "you should contact an IP attorney, he'll explain you how it all works" throughout the whole interview made me think that.

Or maybe it's the way he justifies (rationalizes?) his actions to himself.

No, it's a way of him acting disarming and helpful by falling back on an option that the person can pursue to "validate" the issue at hand. It's definitely not some scheme to trojan horse takedown patent trolls... like himself.

It's a form of intimidation. Like when someone is blackmailing you and says "...or if you're uncomfortable with this then, you know, we can always talk to police about it".

According to the article, he says that because he believes most people will pay up after taking to an attorney.

I sort of really hope this is actually the case. As long as no one actually ends up paying them any money.