Just FYI, I'm still sceptical of whether I should escrow BFL chip group buys. :/ I would prefer that the chips were somewhat more confirmed before even starting this as given their track record, 100 days could easily turn into 1000 days... (and I'll need to hold the coins for god knows how long
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I think you are demonstrating good instincts here. Your whole operation could be clouded during the course of such a transaction, and there seem to be plenty of opportunities to deal with parties who have demonstrated some legitimacy. Or at least not the converse.
Also, it does seem that BFL has the ability to manipulate supposedly independent third parties. Software developers, betting site operators, etc. Why take the risk when it seems that there is good business elsewhere? If I were doing any business associated with BFL, I would only do so under some sort of a multi-agent arrangement where two out of three (or whatever) agents needed to agree in order to actually move money.
