As a serial domain buyer (currently at ~37 after letting many expire), I can answer this one: generally you aren't purchasing them with no intention of shipping

As a serial domain buyer (currently at ~37 after letting many expire), I can answer this one: generally you aren't purchasing them with no intention of shipping. That happens later. For me, the process normally goes: 1. Inspiration strikes, I start noodling on an idea 2. I get really excited and start exploring the domain name state space for places to host it 3. Life happens, the idea ends up being bad/hard/some better alternative exists, etc. I think buying the domain is kind of an accountability thing in some ways, the same way people pay for instrument/language/etc lessons when they could learn online for free. It makes you more committed to the process. For ideas that I've had, the ones that get domains likely have a much higher completion rate than the ones that don't