Is it? I didn't tell people to do business with him, just that I believe it's possible to do without losing other things than time.

You let him know up front that if he can give a delivery date, you will place an order, and that you will hold him to it. That's a pretty sound advise if you wish to attempt him in the first place. I'll try again, same terms.

If I was going to attempt to buy something from him for a couple of thousand I'd probably make up a written contract to have him agree to in writing before sending any money. And you can bet that a day after he would miss a delivery I'd dispute the transaction. And I wouldn't give him any 1+ months in the first place between payment and delivery.

I believe that the most this would have cost me would have been 3 emails to Paypal, and his Paypal account would have been locked down. Why do I think that?

Because that's what happens in buyer disputes.

Don't send checks, money in envelopes, or do wire transfers. Paypal or credit cards kids. And always quote the promised delivery date, and have it in writing. Don't do phone promises!

He's a unreliable crook, Chick-Fil-a are assholes, but both of them have good products. (supposedly in John's case, I can vouch for CFA)

For me that's what counts at the end of the day, and the way I go about approaching the vendor is based on the above facts.