it could be sellers. Actually, the reason I was scoping out that plane is because I have one just like it that I really like, but I replaced the iron with one I made. I also have a record 4 SS and a LN 4 (which I forgot about last night). I'd like to replace the SS with another stanley, as I have the urge to make a couple more irons, but I had to settle for older planes (and ordered two so that I can keep the one that is smoother adjusting). I hear they are sometimes not flat, but I've figured out how to file planes just hollow and then lap them to less than 1 1/2 thousandths (useful for infills, but I'd like try it on a stanley plane).
I made a few videos talking about a blue stanley type 20, and it's not as though I have Sellers' pull - but I am dumb enough to talk something up and then go and try to buy it. When I do that on videos, I get several thousand viewers, and I'm sure few who act on any advice, but if it's ten people who do, it creates a problem on ebay.
I got a type 18 plane (complete) and a sweetheart type (complete) last night for $30 each plus shipping. I think the world has gone mad. Both of those usually have irons that do not need replacing.
I also ruined the market for washitas by tooting my horn about them repeatedly on shaving forums. Now questions about them come up almost weekly. shaving forums don't even need to say something is great, they just need to talk about it, and the pockets of the buyers are deeper than woodworkers. Perhaps I should go badmouth the SS planes on youtube now that I'm trying to dump one on ebay.