This response is with respect to eBay auctions as auction houses are an entirely different bidding entity that requires a different bidding strategy and execution.
Setting snipes helps avert some of the "shilling" and retraction issues addressed by the OP.
However, if someone is shilling an auction, they are usually doing so to either inflate the potential final sales price, entice bidders into believing that there's a bidding war or to set a floor or reserve for the item. And they are usually doing this in the earlier stages of the auction, not in the closing hours or minutes (eBay restricts retractions in the final hours).
Retractions are most often used to "out" an underbidder's maximum bid. Not such a concern when they happen early in an auction as the serious bidding has yet to take place, but still a concern.
Personally, I think too many spend too much time worrying about the "what ifs" and the "am I getting shilled" to enjoy the chase of cards that they want. And then the sword cuts again when they win, as they feel cheated and when they lose, they have a built in excuse.
Simply snipe it. Set your and let your bid roll out in the last seconds. Too late to have someone retract a bid on you and too late for a shilling to react if they haven't already capped your bid...
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