Hello Mike,

among other points, you have asked "who would not use the right to end an auction early?"

( By the way... I think that just because there is a "right" to do something, doesn't make it RIGHT.
You know...people may use what they call their right, while they do other people terribly wrong. )

Well ... I would NOT. And other old-fashioned people with principles, proper form, style or manners, would not have either.
If a "newbie" had done an act like that on Ebay .... Bad, but... OK, can be counted as inexperience. But such an experienced seller ? ... No.
Simply, no.

And just saying "I apologize" is not what some people too easily accept.
I thought about this very very long last night after it upset me so much .... and came to the conclusion I still have today:
A seller (or an experienced dealer) followed his greed and the aim to make more money .... realized there's probably more profit to be made on this forum/platform than on the "bay" ... OK.

But, is damaging ones reputation, which I think happened here - and meanwhile there's even some "good" to that, now that we've seen how someone can dismantle himself - worth the (only possibly) higher profit, i.e. more money ??
IMO, after the initial disappointment for some of us, like j0hnnycache, is over, they then have a new, better "picture", impression of the seller ...
And, not doubting his seriousness here - it is all about style and behavior for me, and maybe a few more of us too.

Mike, don't get me wrong, please. I, as well as you, am not trying to start trouble or argue longer than necessary about this.
But I felt the urgent need to state my point here - no matter if someone is "new" or not.
Acting is if keeping these pieces "in the family" was such a noble idea .... Hmmm. Who believed that? Did you?
I doubt that the majority here did.
Being after more money ..... aha, OK ...THAT's what we're talking about!
Well...some might call that a sin, some would call it normal behavior - it's just "human" after all, Iguess, isn't it?

Will the seller make/get more money here on OTD than he had made finishing the auction on Ebay ? .... He will never know.

Best regards, Mike
and, btw, I respect/appreciate your point about your great watch - and love it in it's imperfect condition. :-)

Cheers,
Olaf