I suppose it's an individual thing. If I see something I want, and the price is fair, I'll buy it. I tried auctions a few times, made my top bid, and got outbid, so I just don't bother anymore. Takes too much time to keep going back and bidding in tiny increments. Provided I even remember.
The few times I tried auctions on #*&Bay, the final price wasn't near what the items were worth, possibly because the people who might have paid more didn't see them. We've done much better with BIN.
Maybe bidding on auctions is some kind of sport, and not everyone plays. (I want the big green grin back!)