You raise an interesting point Pete. More and more the auction format is being used as a direct sales venue with opening bids at market value. Those doing so are the profit driven types not collectors in the true sense. Here are two contrasting examples. A closed Bally's going the full length of the auction with no reserve reaching market value and a market value starting bid auction with no activity.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3265677234

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3443&item=3266026452

Tom