Thanks Olaf. You have converted my view. I am old-fashioned as well and see the breach of trust here.
I do still like the CT auction option - no one is surprised in this method so long as the seller updates the current price daily and honors the high bid at the deadline.

: 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