I wasn't going to enter into this, but I'm disappointed that the
original thread has gone sideways. There's nothing that I like better than having a good discussion / debate; and hitting it out of the park with facts, but it does dismay me when people get "personal" with each other. There is no need for this imho.
Firstly, congrats to Robert for getting the exposure with Cyger. That is a great career boost. And it highlights .au - something we should all be grateful for.
As most people know who read Domainer; I have helped mentor him since his early days. Whilst I don't agree with everything he has done or does, the fact is he is the hardest working and most passionate "domain lover / domain broker" that I have met in a long time. And he has notched up some decent wins. Some people who have been in the industry a long time may view him as just another "shooting star" that will flame out in a matter of time (many of us have seen a lot of those), but I think he's the "real deal", and we are seeing the beginnings of a champion in this industry.
Some people may view him as "lucky" with the price he got on Fetch.com.au (and I am one of those), but this industry is full of luck! I've lost track of the number of times I would have accepted a lower price on some of my own domains only for someone to offer me higher than anticipated. That's the nature of the game if you're a seasoned player.
As for Snoopy, I've had my share of battles with him over the years with regards his negativity to .au. And this will probably continue for a long time to come! But I still have
great respect for him, and for what he's achieved in the domaining world over 20 years (as do many of the big names in the domain industry overseas). He is one of the smartest (and analytical) guys out there - and he has seen the highs and lows over a couple of decades. He's also probably made more money with domain names than all of us combined. Was he "lucky" to be in at the right time with regards dot coms. Sure, but what that's got to do with it? As I said, luck is a prevalent denominator in this industry of ours. Just as it is in real estate.
Let me leave you with one of my favourite quotes: