ICANN changed the rules a while back in regards to a high regard of making an attempt to notify owners of expiring domains. This proactive approach has probably saved many domains from entering the stream.
Go back 5 years there was not as many brokers in the game, now days, someone works for a domain sales company one year, the next year they are starting their own brokerage firm.
Yes, some people are paying what end users would pay on the aftermarkets. The funny thing is that domainers are paying more than end users. Domainers are an easier sell than the end user, as they know what domains sell for, whereas end users are clueless.
Unless you are building off a solid established portfolio already, and you are paying today's prices, be prepared to hold a while, and ready to lose money. Many of the players playing in the aftermarket, are selling their 96-2004 type domains, and sending that money back into the market. Whereas lots of new money is buying blind via credit card, or debt, and they are going to be in for a surprise on what this business is really like.
Escrow has not made things easy, after market commissions are creeping around 20% these type of factors really distract from reported domain sales, and what is actually received.
