[Mamzelle]

Doesn’t this policy of “when you lose, you really really lose” discourage selling virtual items on Ebay?

[1rudeboy]

No, because there are activities that are reasonably "safe." Safe enough that one can turn a profit despite the occasional loss of ship, cargo, and equipment. If you use an illegal after-market (macro) program, you just turn on your computer and go do laundry. You earn virtual currency, which you then sell on Ebay. It's called "farming," and it is practically impossible to regulate.

It's the dark side of all these MMORPG's.

[1rudeboy]

Oh, and with regard to equipment (if that was your specific question), combat-losses actually (and perversely) increase the demand for it to be purchased illegally, as some players are lazy and don't want to work themselves out of a hole.

[1rudeboy]

After a quick jaunt over to Ebay, though, it appears that the preferred method is to purchase the virtual currency illegally with real-life cash, and then use the virtual currency in-game to to purchase equipment.