Finding drops for the AH isn't as powerful a reward loop (at least pre-inferno) because whether you get a reward or not is at the whim of other players, and because your reward (or failure) is delayed by up to 48 hours. This may be different in the end-game (I didn't get addicted enough to get there) but during levelling it is quite weak.
I think there's definitely something to your second point though. Are we less prone to addiction, or more likely to recognise it and choose to break the loop?
I think there's definitely something to your second point though. Are we less prone to addiction, or more likely to recognise it and choose to break the loop?