I do agree that the way ebay and paypal are set up is primarily to earn ebay as many $$ as possible.  Obviously.  They are in it for profit and paypal provides a substantial amount of the companies overall profit. 

To say it's not is very naive.   Even if you offer another of the approved payment methods your listing will state 'this has no paypal buyer protection'.  Technically correct, but also designed to put the fear in buyers. 

I have tried other approved payment methods on ebay but you do not sell anything due to the common notion that nothing else is truly safe.  So back to paypal I go.

Despite what posters here say, bank deposit can have protection, especially if funded via creditcard or debit card.  Even without cc or dc funding you can reverse a payment if you contact your bank (I know, I've done it).

The assumption that you are going to get ripped off if you pay via bank deposit is unfounded if you use a seller with a good track record.  I often receive bank deposits and far prefer it - I save on fees and don't have to wait for the money to transfer into my account.  It makes no different in the way I treat the customer. I still post promptly.  I do still have my feedback to protect afterall.

Most of the posters on here have been repeating the same advice for years, which is basically cut and pastes from ebay and paypal websites.