You have to fish around a bit, but there are some BINs that come up at reasonable prices or better if someone just wants to unload and not play a waiting/auction game. Agreed there are way too many museum prices and those you noted buying/flipping at double or more. I wish eBay would figure out a way to limit those same cards, prices, people who have the same listings for a year or more. I guess counter-productive for eBay if they can make money on them, but I thought even "good 'till cancelled" had some recurring listing fees associated no matter how much you sold thru them? Hell, even at .65 cents - that's over $23 if your listing has lingered on for 3 years.
BST and AH's are definitely more attractive for me, but there are so many (AH's) now - I can't keep track of who/what/when .. even with Auction Report they don't capture everyone (like Bussineau for example .. yeah I know - he doesn't pay to play). I love Heritage but with the recent tax hit, I can't really compete anymore with those in states they say they don't have physical presence. I have to factor in now 26% - 28% hit btw that and BP. Funny how they sent physical location notifications in some 10-15 add'l states
all at once last summer
Al/LOTG (as you noted), Goodwin, REA, Lee (Sterling), Brockelman, etc. are some favorites I look for. I like Sirius Sports Cards and Baggers as well, but they're more into post-war and I don't focus there too much anymore. Mile High and Memory Lane are good IMO, but they pad their bottom line with higher than most shipping & "handling" fees (they're relatively minor, but they're "nickel & dime'ish" nonetheless) and I think Mile High is at a league-leading 21.5% BP on top of that now for payment w/CC/PayPal. My last invoice was over $36 to ship btw for 9 cards.
I'd say be patient, pick your shots, weed through those known flippers and/or remove them from your consideration or search. You can put in eBay search (-mikedenero) for example. No offense to just him, but he's a known flipper - - he's actually good enough to list his name in the listings so you can search for or eliminate him if you so choose
