I also feel kinda like those step bids are just 
people who don't really want the item but are 
driving up the price.  It doesn't happen so much 
with cels but I also collect Pendelfin figurines 
(pretty much the old plaques that usually are 
rare and can go for high prices).  Inevitably, 
there's usually someone with no feedback or low 
feedback (and have been an ebayer for awhile), 
who bids in small steps and drive up the prices.  
That really p***es me off.