Everything being equal, it is better for the seller (and worse for the buyer) for there to be early bids because they advertise the seller's auction.

How about this idea to deter sniping? Have an auction last a MINIMUM of 1 or 3 or 5 or 7 days or whatever, and end at a RANDOM (ever changing) time at least 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 days later!!! That would force snipers to bid much earlier than 5 minutes before the close of an auction!

Robert