3) Which do you prefer:
3a) ASICMiner sells USB miner for 0.5 BTC. Customer sells it on ebay for $400.
3b) ASICMiner sells USB miner for 1.99 BTC. Customer sells it on ebay for $400.
Ebay prices have dropped quickly after the price cut. Remember not everyone who is ready and willing to buy USB miners has the BTC to do so. Ebay makes an easy way to purchase them with fiat, albeit with a markup.
yeah, i'm not willing to bid more than $150 right now. Healthy return for seller, should help ease the pain of getting rid of the last of their inventory after the next price drop.