I'm not sure I understand the purpose of this list. Are you suggesting that the first one to lay "dibs" on lot has exclusive rights to bid on it? If not, what is the purpose of the list other than to try to lay claim on an lot? Why wouldn't we just let the auction run its course (free market, supply and demand...however you want to refer to it)?
For example, if person "A" is willing to pay $775 for lot 1234, and person "B" is willing to pay $850 for that same lot, how does person A "run up the price" on person B? Presumably, person A would bid up to $775 and then quit. Person B would then either get the item for $776 (or whatever the bid increment is but still lower than the $850 person B was willing to pay) or, more likely, would be competing against other bidders up to his maximum bid of $850. What if person B ends up not placing a bid (for whatever reason...forgets, changes mind, can't log on, etc.) so person A never bids since person B had "dibs" and the item sells for less than $775 to someone not related to this site?
The only way I see this list as an effective "tool" is if the people interested in the same items talk to each other and (this is the tough part) share with each other what their maximum bid amount is. If someone is clearly willing to pay more for an item that the other interested bidder(s), then it doesn't make sense for the lower bidder(s) to place bids on the item since they will never win it as long as the person willing to pay the most keeps true to his word and bids up to his maximum (if necessary) or at least bids more than the other interested bidder(s) were willing to pay.
Of course, there is the possibility that item sells for less than what the lower interested bidder(s) were willing to pay (if there wasn't much interest in the item). Assuming that the higher interested bidder held true to his word and placed his bid and eventually won the item, the lower interested bidder(s) would have to accept that the higher interested bidder might get the item for less than the maximum the higher interested bidder was willing to pay and might even get the item for less than the lower interested bidders were willing to pay if there isn't any other interest in the item.
I don't know if I will bid on any items but if I happen to log on to the site on the day of the auction and see tremendous deals, I might be tempted to bid on an item or two. My intention wouldn't be to try and run up the price on any item(s) them but rather, to get a great deal on some tools.....just like everyone else on the "dibs" list.