Isn't it though? Not to be rude, but I'm pretty sure Sneeza wasn't hired by Valve to create TF2Outpost, nor were the creators of backpack.tf. If they weren't hired by Valve, then wouldn't they be classed as community-created resources? If they were hired by Valve, then how are they qualified to determine these prices? And why would they ask for community input?
I'm not trying to be disrespectful, Gatherix, but I fail to see how there is nothing wrong with the system.
I agree that people shouldn't swear their lives by it, but I still think that there is something to be said for approvals made despite an overwhelming amount of refusal by the community.
I think we're tripping up about our definitions as to what makes something "right" or not. My intention isn't to delve into axiology, but I believe that the administrators of backpack.tf are not doing something wrong. Nowhere is it stated that all price suggestions are determined solely by community votes, and as administrators of the website they have the power and right to control its content. I believe it's the responsibility of the user of such material to properly understand the content they're consuming.
Now, considering that backpack.tf has advertised the implementation of price voting and similar features as what makes the site unique to other price guides, disregarding that is indeed a little dishonest, yes, and players have a right to be frustrated with this; it is deceptive. But I wouldn't characterize it as morally wrong.
Creators of sites like TF2 Outpost, TF2 Warehouse, backpack.tf, Scrap.tf, et cetera are of course not hired by Valve. But I think it's unmistakable that these sites drastically change the TF2 market - price guides define, well, the prices people trade at. Trading sites, most notably TF2 Outpost, define the way players trade. Thus, individual developers (such as Sneeza) have astronomical impact on the TF2 trading market. Much of it is at their control. Generally, as in the real world, what keeps these powers 'in check' is the public mob who chooses where they do business, boycotting places that the majority deem unfit. This is evident after what transpired with Spreadsheet.
And ultimately the entire TF2 market is in control of Valve. Period. It's not a free market. Valve controls the items in play. Valve determines what is allowed and isn't regarding the trading of items. Valve can start up or shut down any influential trading service as they wish. And, as you have agreed to by owning a Steam account, Valve owns all your virtual goodies. Valve controls the market with crates, glitched items, rules, and various services like the Steam Market. Just like any market it requires a consumer, but that does not then lead to the conclusion that the market is controlled by the consumer. Sure, everyone could stop trading, but at well over 2 million premium TF2 players that's not happening anytime soon.
The 'community' may be the gas behind the trading market, but we're not the engine. What determines if a site like backpack.tf is a valid and trusted site is whether the majority of the player-base consumes its content (or if Valve takes out its ban hammer and does something unexpected, which is almost always expected). For whatever reason, be it stupidity, intelligence, difference of opinion, or lack of consideration/caring, all of which players are entitled to, backpack.tf is the go-to place for prices. I agree, some of their methods and actions are deceptive. But that means squat unless the majority do something about it, for or against it.
No need to worry about being disrespectful, it's just a debate.
If anything I have to worry about being disrespectful for making you read all of that.
