Well, I understand your position. Several points:

• Yes, Juan cards have gotten way too high recently. I think it is because many Juan collectors have been bidding more and there are a few new ones in the fray. I saw a Sweet Spot Auto go for $52 recently. That is ridiculous. I have seen it several times go for less that $20.
• I bid very different from you. I like to throw a "feeler" bid out there initially to see if I can "get lucky" on the price. Why wouldn't I want to pay as little as possible? I am trying to amass a collection for as little as possible. I will go back and bid again on a card if I really want it bad enough, but mostly I am simply patient. I know that unless it is a 1/1 there will be another opportunity down the road for me to pick it up. I have an indefinite timetable.
• I also agree that while a bidding agreement does not prevent someone else from bidding against you, it simply lowers the number of people you have to worry about bidding against. There are certainly people I do not mind bidding against...I just try to avoid doing it to my friends. Many times I have seen a card I would like to bid on and Rob ends up getting it super cheap because I don't do anything. I don't want to drive up his price when he will probably still win it and I would just be costing him money.