Going once, twice, sold! for $52.49!

A friend of mine who watches these things tells me that Microsoft in the past would have shut down sales of pirated Windows copies on eBay — but isn't any more, essentially allowing the eBay marketplace to discover the "true" value of the OS.

I don't know if MS Microsoft Win Windows 2000 Pro New Full Retail Media is pirated or not (I'll assume not); but that's beside the pricing point, which is its buy-it-now price of $52.49.

Here's an OEM Full Version for $108.95.

So, three somewhat overlapping questions...

1. (Maybe I should know the answer to this already, but I don't) Are sales of these copies violating Microsoft's rules?
2. Is there really a new Microsoft practice involved here? Meaning, are they passively sanctioning a Windows market flourish outside their authorized retail and OEM channels?
3. What, if anything, has happened, and why?

One possible answer is that nothing has changed, and the observations here are in error.

Another is that Microsoft has given up an impossible fight, and nothing more.

Another is that Micrsoft wants to compete with Linux (which is free or close) in the open marketplace.

I'm sure there are others. That's why I'm asking.

Speculative answers are fine, but if any of ya'll have good first-hand information here, that would be especially helpful.