Why is it so inconvenient for you to make an offer?
You want to be in the biggest position of advantage possible, where transactions are concerned. Nothing wrong with that, unless it's coupled with an overarching sense of entitlement.
Making an offer puts you in a position of disadvantage...you don't have a place from which to wriggle the price down, and you don't have an instant idea whether or not you can get the piece. But thats just part of buying luxury items, you may not always be able to control every aspect of the deal.
Additionally, dealers quoting different prices for different people is a very common thing, although it's not a practice I espouse. It might be because they need the money, think you have more money than another guy, or just want more in return for dealing with a customer who is a huge pain in the ass. Or a dozen other reasons.
Many dealers prefer not to publish their prices because they dont feel like providing what is essentially a free appraisal service, one that may skew the market.
As for the forum itself, I think its a wonderful thing and as to the swap forum I have no problem with it but trust the judgement of the moderators whatever they decide.
-Garrett