You would not be out of pocket if you paid with Paypal, I have had only one really unpleasent buyer in all the years I have been buying and selling and I didn't end up out of pocket and she was kicked off ebay, as a buyer I have never been out of pocket, I have either received what I have paid for or I have got a refund.

The only difference I find in the ebay of today as opposed to the late 90s is that there are far more people to sell to, the seller protection is vastly improved, buyer protection is vastly improved, it is much easier to sell overseas and there is a far more varied choice of things to buy from all over the world.