AS A BUYER....

I would not want the 15 minute rule, because if I see something I want badly I will set a reminder on my computer and make it a point to look at the price near closing. Then if it is still at a reasonable bargan I will try and snipe it in the last 2~3 seconds and I seldom lose an auction that way. This keeps the price from continually inching up on me after I bid and I want it as cheap as I can get it.

If I find something I am mildly 'interested in' I will place a bid and if I get out bid, so be it. I won't re-bid. (& I seldom ever win when I bid that way)

AS A SELLER....

I use Turbo Lister and upload in blocks of auctions so they all end at the same second, preventing someone from 'manually' sniping more than one auction then the next from the same seller (like I do). If they are going to snipe they must use software to do it. I want as many bids as I can get to spur the frenzy and run the price UP. So, as a seller the 15 minute rule would be a blessing and force buyers to 'cough up the dough' and pay the highest price.

OVERALL....

I think the 15 minute rule is an overall bad thing because it favors the seller. On eBay the buyers are the underdogs as they take all the risks, end-up having all the fees padded and passed to them, and end up over paying. On eBay there are not many bargans anymore, you get something you cannot find anywhere else at a fair or inflated price. Seldom do you 'steal' anything for a below value price. I remember when eBay first started and it was like that, trash and tresure. You could get an item at a fantastic price, but what makes ebay good is also bad. Six million or more views a day run bids up (good for seller/ bad for buyer) also the added volume brings in scammers, shills, fraud, no-pay buyers, and etc.. So, I would lean against the 15 minute rule.

Just one man's opinion.