as a buyer, it is very dispiriting to make a purchase, pay, and have a deafening silence from the buyer.

At least if the seller is one of those who give feedback on payment - something as simple as "paid promptly", I know the money has been received rather than floating around in the ethernet and presumably the seller is now busily packing.

Even better is a seller who marks the item as posted -  I get an ebay email, so I know my money has been received, and my item is on the way.

Even betterer (lol) is a seller who marks the item as posted and gives a tracking number.   In which case i don't give a stuff about feedback