It doesn't seem that unreasonable of an opening bid considering this TV is in excellent original condition not to mention the rarity. Who cares what the opening bid is. Doing it this way reserves the bidding to people who are serious about getting it as we all know TV's like this will sell for the opening bid, even the ones that are rusted up moldy turds that were sitting in a damp basement since 1962... Valuable items with low opening bids just opens the door for stupid bidders who just get into the $1 bidding increment wars as they somehow think they will win the item as long as they keep playing the game jacking the price up throughout the entire run of the auction. Then the big shot bidder comes in at the last second and blows them of the water .
