Howard,
Well put!
I take your point, and it makes good sense. Guess my 'Darwinian' approach seems rather selfish?
I never considered asking others not to bid. Wouldn't really feel comfortable doing that as such, but also wouldn't think less of someone, or stand in the way of anyone else that did make the request. I guess it's an option if something was REALLY badly wanted.
I'm only speaking for myself of course, but I know if I found something that I wanted and it was currently very low in price, with no other attention, I gotta say I would keep my mouth tightly shut until won.......then squawk like mad!

I got a nearly mint Ford Service Bulletin Manual for $45, that way. It would be daft to broadcast something you are bidding on with view to winning! My perspective was simply based on principal that there will always be someone hoping for the 'cheap' buy, though they may not identify themselves in the forum as such.
The whole thing is really a moot point anyway I suppose. Will no doubt be plenty of other web-sites posting ebay stuff. With that in mind, better to go to someone from MLU than elsewhere