Ross Mayfield is talking about social capital in corporations, but it could just as easily apply to the community of eBay sellers:

"Like with weblogs on the public Internet, the best content and expertise rise to the top naturally. While social capital is a necessary precondition for the development of intellectual capital, such a lofty strategic value proposition is unnecessary. Help people produce first -- and learn as they go." (emphasis added)

eBay needs to learn the lessons of KM (knowledge management).  Simplicity and flexibility are paramount. The good news, it's gonna get better, one step at a time.

2:16:49 AM