Not having been privy to the conversations which led to the inception of Ebay, it's hard to know what the original vision was. Speaking purely for myself, I've always seen it as one gigantic, worldwide garage sale - especially when it came to selling. Based upon that personal view of the service, I finally bowed out as a seller when fees and taxes ate into profits at a percentage I could no longer accept. I'm sure this cutoff percentage is different for everyone; some gave up long before me, while others continue selling today. It's all about what you're willing to put up with.
Now, having said that, I'm happy Ebay is around because I still purchase stuff, and that stuff is generally not available just any old place. It is what it is.
DD