(Getting this where I meant for it to be posted)

Basil, you have written a lot of informative articles, from which many (including myself) have gleaned helpful tidbits of information. I thank you for your contributions in that regard. That said...

The beauty of the Internet is the ability for all of us to post whatever we want, whenever and wherever (within reason). But while embracing that freedom, to imply that there is no correlation between articles published (both here and elsewhere) about certain AH markets and increased competition in those same markets is folly. After that, it is Economics 101: the inevitable result of increasing supply against an unchanged demand pattern is falling prices, and thus, falling profits. Do I have reams of data gleaned from Auctioneer in spreadsheets for analysis? No. But the anecdotal evidence, seen in various forums scattered across the web, and my personal observations (on more than one server, on more than one battlegroup) are sufficient.

"The real fun comes from talking to other players about this particular facet of the endgame -- comparing notes and strategies, telling stories and having rivalries."

Places for that already exist - you linked to them directly. If this nebulous "demand for popularization" were as strong as you make it appear, JMTC's forums would be overflowing with users.

And so it goes... the long-term players will ride each successive wave of wild-eyed newcomers who saw what appeared to be a can't-miss gold-making operation, and drive them out once they realize they are in over their heads. Sure there will be one, on occasion, that sticks around for while - but for the most part, the "new competition" simply serves as a major source of irritation and temporarily-stunted profits, with no positive impact on the market (from the seller perspective).