Good answers.
I like the idea of a coop and am looking for one in my area. Like most I like to fix up bikes but honestly don't want the hassle of selling online - I'd rather pay it forward by donating to a good use/cause which I do with friends etc...

I do agree with the crazy prices of people just "hoping" they have a treasure but when I look at CL I see vintage era bikes actually at lower prices.. what I might consider reasonable if I were a person looking for a ready to ride solution. What are inflated are the old road bikes.

I do agree the whole American Picker thing is at play as well. The same thing happens in general at our local flea market. It used to be that it was a good place to go and buy stuff cheap that people were getting rid of. Now there are "professionals" who have tables and walk around early buying all the good cheap stuff and reselling it at an inflated price. Same thing. Good for them but it creates an artificial market (in a sense) and puts a different vibe to the experience.

If flippers buy bikes that require little investment to make serviceable, those are the same bikes that most people who just want to ride would buy. Ideally, a refurbisher would buy the real klunkers and bring them back from the grave.

Again, just observations on the scene that I note and wonder about. Not a put down of flippers in any way.