Umm... The Scientology members get ripped off rather severerly so the chuch can expand it's real estate portpholio. Is that unlike, say, the vatican ?. No.
It's rather extremely controlling and demanding uniformity and conformity of its members though. Ex members who voice opposition get persecuted and character assassinated.
It feeds off weak individuals who require that kind of constant structure and sense of belonging. It very much is exploitative.
Do the Scientology higher ups know this ?. Of course they do, they're not idiots.