It does seem off doesn't it?
I have started auctions at the lowest amount I was willing to take for the item/items and had the auctions end with NO bids.
Follow that up with the SAME auction starting at a mere .99 and gotten 4/5 times what I was originally willing to take.
For some odd reason, more so now on ebay since all the Feedback changes.... a .99 starting bid attracts the buyers.
Within the first few hours the "watchers" pile on or as I tend to say "the vultures hover".
It's not just about the "title" to draw the buyers in...the starting bid is a major draw as well.