This type of settlement seems to be the way of the world. The settlements almost always include a discount off another purchase (probably less than or equal to the margin made on the purchase) rather than just cash back.

The only ones who get cash are the lawyers who fought the case (both sides naturally). I suppose if the settlement was to be cash only, the manufacturer would fight a lot harder to reduce the settlement amount, which of course would reduce the lawyers' cut. So, a class action suit is going to be set up for the highest possible number for the lawyers' benefit, while the payout will be in a method that pretty much eliminates "cash out of pocket" for the manufacturer to pay the "victims".