Except there's a way around the lockout
Hackers have reverse engineered the server Apple uses with iTunes/iCloud to activate a device. So they created a fake server and you redirect the IP address via the hosts file to point to the hacker's own server. Then iTunes simply uses that fake server and Shazzam your device activation lock is bypassed. It's not perfect, you wipe the device out and you are back at another activation lock screen.
How Apple might fix this? Well for starters they would have to re-engineer several things and re-release iTunes. iTunes should not connect to a server that is not trusted. When using the bypass, iTunes warns you it can't validate the server but you can let it continue. That would have to be stopped by Apple in a new iTunes version, it should check for the server and validate it with a public / private key comparison and refuse to use it if its not legit. Next, Apple would have to invalidate old iTunes versions with iOS devices by pushing out an iOS update to iOS6, iOS7, and iOS8. Thus forcing users to upgrade to the newer iTunes. Apple would have to break old iTunes versions at least for device activation and users would have to upgrade to activate. It would piss off a lot of people but since you can bypass the activation lock in seconds... I think it's worth it.
Prep: Use a valid activated SIM and put a PIN on it first.
First step: go to iCloud Bypass (google it) website and copy the IP.
Second step: Go to your hosts file from "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc".
Step three: Open hosts with Notepad and add IP albert.apple.com.
(Example: 192.168.1.1 albert.apple.com)
Step four: Connect your iPad/iPhone/iPod to your PC (via USB) and open iTunes.
Step five: Wait for the message box with: iTunes can't verify the identity of the server "albert.apple.com" , then click "Continue".
You are done! You successfully bypassed iCloud activation.
Mac's use /etc/hosts and can edit with TextEdit instead of Notepad
And no, I am not letting the cat out of the bag, that ship has sailed... This bypass works and works rather well. Though there are outstanding issues with cellular service on iPad/iPhone working in some cases but not all.
We should just start filing many bug reports that this is even possible to Apple, that may light a fire toward a fix. Pretty sure they know about it and will be addressing it quickly and quietly after they have some time to work on the problem.