Of course it doesn't match the facts. That's sort of the whole basis of the appearant age argument.
However, I do not think that it is nessesary to attribute such a creation as being only because God wants to lie to us. I think that's a bit too extreme, and as has been pointed out, not really a common standpoint amongts believers.
With such other examples as the whole free will deal, you could argue that it is done in such a way because people have an easier time to cope with things they think they can understand. Hence, it may be a lie, but it's a white lie which isn't all bad.