Why would somebody do that?  What is the advantage for them?

Using a 'privacy protection' service is apparently acceptable.  That is how bitcoin.org is registered with a service from Japan.  You could start a lawsuit in Japan to figure out who really owns bitcoin.org and that would almost certainly fail. 

<clink>

Put your bitcoin address in your signature.  You never know when someone might toss you a coin for the app you already created.   

When this happened before all work was counted and paid.  I think it is just the front end.  While annoying there is no harm done. 

That actually is a problem as well, not just the amount of the fee, but it also nearly guarantees his long term failure, even if he is successful short term.   You need an ongoing source of income to run a business.  While it is not the definition of a ponzi scheme, it is close if you only take a (large) fee upfront.  Now new customers are paying for the operating expenses of the older ones.  Once the new customers dry up, there is no money to come in and pay the bills.  The business folds along with all of those large upfront fees. 

WHOIS information for bitcoin.org :

[Querying whois.publicinterestregistry.net]
[whois.publicinterestregistry.net]
NOTICE: Access to .ORG WHOIS information is provided to assist persons in
determining the contents of a domain name registration record in the Public Interest Registry
registry database. The data in this record is provided by Public Interest Registry
for informational purposes only, and Public Interest Registry does not guarantee its
accuracy.  This service is intended only for query-based access.  You agree
that you will use this data only for lawful purposes and that, under no
circumstances will you use this data to: (a) allow, enable, or otherwise
support the transmission by e-mail, telephone, or facsimile of mass
unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations to entities other than
the data recipient's own existing customers; or (b) enable high volume,
automated, electronic processes that send queries or data to the systems of
Registry Operator or any ICANN-Accredited Registrar, except as reasonably
necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations.  All
rights reserved. Public Interest Registry reserves the right to modify these terms at any
time. By submitting this query, you agree to abide by this policy.

Domain ID:D153621148-LROR
Domain Name:BITCOIN.ORG
Created On:18-Aug-2008 13:19:55 UTC
Last Updated On:27-Dec-2010 21:07:41 UTC
Expiration Date:18-Aug-2018 13:19:55 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar:eNom, Inc. (R39-LROR)
Status:CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED
Registrant ID:df044d568e0
Registrant Name:ANONYMOUSSPEECH  ANONYMOUSSPEECH
Registrant Organization:Anonymousspeech LLC
Registrant Street1:1-3-3 Sakura House None
Registrant Street2:
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:Nakano-ku
Registrant State/Province:Tokyo-to
Registrant Postal Code:164-0011
Registrant Country:JP
Registrant Phone:+50.55396801
Registrant Phone Ext.:
Registrant FAX:
Registrant FAX Ext.:
Registrant Email:contact@anonymousspeech.com
Admin ID:df044d568e0
Admin Name:ANONYMOUSSPEECH  ANONYMOUSSPEECH
Admin Organization:Anonymousspeech LLC
Admin Street1:1-3-3 Sakura House None
Admin Street2:
Admin Street3:
Admin City:Nakano-ku
Admin State/Province:Tokyo-to
Admin Postal Code:164-0011
Admin Country:JP
Admin Phone:+50.55396801
Admin Phone Ext.:
Admin FAX:
Admin FAX Ext.:
Admin Email:contact@anonymousspeech.com
Tech ID:df044d568e0
Tech Name:ANONYMOUSSPEECH  ANONYMOUSSPEECH
Tech Organization:Anonymousspeech LLC
Tech Street1:1-3-3 Sakura House None
Tech Street2:
Tech Street3:
Tech City:Nakano-ku
Tech State/Province:Tokyo-to
Tech Postal Code:164-0011
Tech Country:JP
Tech Phone:+50.55396801
Tech Phone Ext.:
Tech FAX:
Tech FAX Ext.:
Tech Email:contact@anonymousspeech.com
Name Server:NS3.ZONEEDIT.COM
Name Server:NS9.ZONEEDIT.COM
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
DNSSEC:Unsigned

How much would you pay for this option and how would you pay for the bitcoins if you exercised this option. 

I just did it, with paid to referrer 59 gamekingx

http://sldoubler.com/?id=61

Hoarders make the price of bitcoin go up even more then speculators do.

But setting a pricing structure like that, you guarantee the site will have very few sellers.  Why would I go to your site (with currently zero visitors) and place an auction up when I can go to ebay and post for free and have millions of people see it. 

Or better yet, I can go to Biddingpond.com (as far as I know they are the 'first mover' in the bitcoin auction space) and list for free, and have more people see the item then on your site where I have to drop 25btc?

The price for registration seems very high.  Also having a large one time fee and no further support for your business from a given customer is a pretty bad business model (if your goal is to stay operating) but is a GREAT business model if your goal is to take the money and run. 

The value of a bitcoin changing relative to other currencies such as the dollar does not stop or even cause any harm for gambling.  The value of the dollar changes vs the euro as well.  Both can are still used for gambling. 

If you add a box to increase difficulty rate at a percent rate per change such as 10% it might be pretty close to reality. 

I see the difficulty rate rising at about 10% a change for at least a few months. 

True.  If at difficulty 150k a bitcoin is worth $1.5 then mining is still profitable.

I also would shut down.  There is no reason to keep going and make it harder for others with lower cost electricity.  I will also at the end have a good deal of hardware that I can sell.   I figure if a rig is making 10% of its value in net profit I should keep it going.  If it is a $400 rig and it is making less then $20 net it would be better to sell the rig vs having it depreciate even more.

Ok.  900mhz and 330M is fine with me then.  I do not want to push my cards over 900mhz. 

I have both windows 7 64 bit machines and windows xp 32 bit machines.  The 5870's do the same in both machines, 330k at 900mhz clock.  I use the latest stream as I could NOT get 2.1 to work. 

The windows 7 64 bit machines run smooth an can be used for something else, the XP machines feel doggy but produce the same hash rates.  If you are not using it other then mining it does not seem to matter.

What does it require?  I get 330 with 900mhz clocks, i know i could go higher on the clock a bit but choose not too. 

It is full retail box. The shrink wrap is 'tight' and it does have signs of age.

I am in the USA.  20 btc before shipping though your location is going to drive up cost.