If we want to use the concept of statistics, it is not exactly correct to view the total of an individual e-bayer's feedback as a statistically-useful sampling population indicative of their "performance."
As far as I am concerned, trying to interpret feedback statistically requires a level of multivariate analysis that is imPOSSible to conduct in a statistically valid way (i.e., individual differences of reporters, small-n sample, etc) It simply assumes too much (statistically speaking.)
Now, if you want to acknowledge that your subjective consideration of the words or what what you glean in the way of real (or perceived) activity is useful to you, that's fine, but that is subjective, and we REALLY deserve more than to have this constant bleating to make a point that is SO off-topic. Greg, for someone who lampoons the powerseller community as "august" ... WHY all the posts about e-bay feedback??? Give it a rest why don'tcha and get back to offering useful bike-related info and discussion...and leave the e-bay chat (and passive-aggressive sniping) to an e-bay operated forum.