Similar footwork (lifting the pivot foot and then stepping with the other foot before a shot) is also used in the "up and under" post move.
When a player lifts his pivot foot, he's allowed to step with his other foot as long as he passes or shoots before the pivot foot touches the floor again.
It's true that the step-through hasn't always been popular and therefore may "look wrong" to people, but the rules are clear. It's not a gray area. You guys arguing otherwise are making fools of yourselves.