You answered you own question in the first sentence. In my opinion FE is a non issue it shouldn't be allowed. Silk Road works to protect each side with it's escrow system. The buyer puts btc into SR's escrow which they can no longer touch. The vendor then simple invest an equal amount of product moneywise. This is equal investment on the transaction from both sides. How is this unfair? Many vendors believe they can run around and make up rules as they please. The fact to the matter they can to a certain degree because Silk Road does not have a "vendor operations supervisor". I spend a great number of man hours on the forums and at the same time logged into the marketplace jumping back and forth depending whatever the issue is anytime I come across a vendor I do not know, I read their vendor account profile. For the most part as long as everyone is happy I do not interfere with the vendors politics. If I see a profile that sets off too many red flags to me I've been know to point out these issue that break the Silk Road guidelines and 6 out 10 times that vendor account is either banned or put under investigation within 24 hours. I am the moderator that looks at everything from the buyers point of view by my own choice. I do this because the buyers suffer more on Silk Road than the vendors. If you don't believe me ask me if almost a million dollars worth of buyers money was stolen from them in the past year. This is the reason finalizing early in my opinion shouldnt be allowed for any reason. It is Silk Road policy if something goes wrong in a transaction that the btc are split 50/50 so each side is treated equally. Finalizing early is not needed no matter what a vendor says. They want it for a number of reasons but once a buyer finalizes early he gives up all Silk Road's responsibility in the transaction and opens all kinds of doors that lead to problems. Finalizing early is the number one scam on Silk Road currently and basically allows the vendor to do whatever they want in the situation and they generally will never refund anything. While we are talking about it the next vendor I hear about holding orders ransom until the buyer finalizes early be prepared to not only get annoyed the piss out of by me but will also automatically have their account put on suspension most likely while under investigation. I'm sick of bully vendors and lame scam tricks. Any vendor that care to contact me on why they must have finalization early I will explain in very common sense why their reason is bullshit. So does everyone understand what Mr. Bloodbath has posted here? Since an admin left for a new stage in his life this week, I feel It is my duty to the community to steer it towards a more honest and safe community. Wanna try me see if I dont get shit on my shoes. I've invested too may volunteer hours into this community to watch this new generation of buyers be taken advantage of like I've seen in the last few weeks. Buyers and vendors my PM box is always open and encouraged to use. My advice to OP and other new vendors start out slow don't try to build an empire in a day, those are the vendors that usually will have many problems during their time at Silk Road. For those that don't agree with what I have said...do not have the community in their best interest. nomad bloodbath