Good write up. I have a pretty similar experience with yours on Paypal so far, meaning that I stayed safe as you did and got refunded every single time I had to as a buyer. As a seller it is a different story. Ebay and Paypal are VERY strict and even unfair to sellers in order to keep their buyers happy no matter what. In the middle of the COVID madness I sold a camera to a Mexican, he asked for a refund due to delay, I told him to wait since he had a tracking link to follow his order anyway - besides it wasn't even my fault, the parcel had left Greece but Mexico was a nightmare COVID wise at the time and shipping was bananas. He had the nerve to insist on the refund, Ebay refunded him, he later received the camera and then never answered any of my messages asking him to pay back what he should. I send all proofs and documents on Ebay and they denied any help though they admitted that yes, the guy got a camera for free plus free shipping and I paid all the cost plus lost my camera. Crazy... Paypal conversion rates are a rip off. I agree with your conclusion.