Yes, it is the case that 2-star foods are inferior to lower level foods at the moment. While they have higher potential, those potentials are often difficult or impossible to reach with gear currently available in the game. As others have mentioned, I see this as a deliberate move on SE's part: They predicted that better equipment would be added to the game before new, higher-level recipes will be added to Culinarian.

As such, I doubt they'll be revisiting, as the food is Working As Intended. In the meantime, CULs should not craft it, and no one should eat it, simple as that. If you do craft them, it might be worth hanging onto them until better equipment makes the stats viable.

(As for why folks are buying them NOW - I chalk that one up to folks just not having the patience or ability to do the math, and just grab food with the highest stat caps. Their loss!)