No, of course not
You can just use the auction format, that's what I've always done. LOVE all the free pics and beautiful templates! You don't even need to use a template if you don't want to, but you'll still be able to choose up to 24 pics with the supersize capability.
I don't think it's Ebay legal to have links in your auction listings, will have to do more research on that. I DO know you can have links in a ME page....let me see what I can find out.