Just my 2cents on the offer thing.

I have always let my auctions run to the end as that's just the way I do things. I've also put offers on things and got them that way.

The way I figure it, I'll put in an offer on an item, if they say no, no problems and it's not likely they'll take someone elses offer.
If they accept the offer, it was only a matter of time before someone else made an offer and I lost out.

My mum always told me, life isn't fair.