That was just an example. EBay doesn't have to track how one is bidding. It's actually a good rule. The reason the bidder doesn't automatically win if the reserve is lowered is because the bidder may not have the money to pay for it. For example, if he (a) bids for something but does not meet the reserve; (b) so he spends the money on something else (gambles it away, goes on a vacation, gives a gift, etc. -- it does not have to be spent on eBay); (c) then the seller lowers his reserve; (d) if eBay did not have the rule, the bidder who spent his money may automatically become the winner and owe money he no longer has.

Robert