Would you find it acceptable if Microsoft added code to Windows that wiped the system BIOS (effectively bricking the PC) if it detected you were using a pirated copy?
The difference is that Gateway is shady from the beginning by being a pirate-oriented business. So no, it wouldn't be acceptable from a "good" company like Microsoft, but Gateway doesn't play the same game as Microsoft.
I'm still not saying it's acceptable, just that maybe what's not acceptable is the whole pirate-oriented business instead of just that practice.