While I agree with you Steve, there's another reson for private auctions. It prevents the "Chip Police" from writing to people bidding on Six Million dollars of casino chips, or "Rare" chips that are still on the table, and advising them about the truth.

Door swings both ways.

Most private auctions I have seen, are the scammers who are trying to avoid having the chumps wised up by email.

People who shill bid on there own auctions love the private auctions, because it keeps prying eyes from checking.

Once again, email harvesting is a fact of life, as you have pointed out.