"What are your salary expectations?"... is this a used car lot?

I imagine I'm not alone in saying there's a direct correlation between my career progress and my ability to detect sales tactics as they're hurled my way. I'm of the opinion that this "spider sense", like most superpowers, is a gift and a curse. For example, here are a few examples of what flies through my head on a regular basis:

"Would you like room for cream?"

• Translation: Before I give you your Iced Americano, can Starbucks have the first sip?

"How much are you looking to spend today?"

• Translation: Give me your wallet -- I'll take what I want and give you whatever I think you deserve.

"What are your salary expectations?"

• Translation: While I could set the tone by sharing the salary range we've budgeted for this position... I'd like to stand behind the plausible deniability of "Can we afford you?" and give you an opportunity to undervalue yourself. And if this results in a joust and parry to see who shows their cards first, that's fine -- because that's how most healthy, honest, long-term employee-employer relationships start!

While I'm probably not open to having my opinion flipped on 1 and 2...

... I would love to be wrong about #3.

Am I missing something? Can you relate?

Also curious to hear your winning replies.