The buyer that had the broken neck actually declined to pay for shipping insurance, so that's his mistake.
This is one of my big pet peeves with eBay sellers. Despite their claims otherwise, it's eBay and Paypal policy that it's ALWAYS the SELLER'S responsibility to get the item to you in the condition described. Shipping insurance is to protect the SELLER not the BUYER. Sellers buy it, and in all cases I've seen, only the seller can initiate a claim if shipping damage occurred.
Now, in the course of business, the seller can pass the cost of insurance on to the buyer by building it into the item's price or S&H fee, but if the seller made the insurance optional and the buyer didn't buy it, it's still the SELLER'S problem if the item is damaged in shipping. Any auction that states otherwise, as common as they are, is wrong.
On a related note, sellers should always use a tracking # if the item is worth more than they're willing to lose, because it's their only defense against a buyer who claims they never received the item.
Back on topic... I'm the one who's getting FL's bass. I took him up on his offer yesterday. As bad as this bass may be, his offer was very generous and I appreciate it much. I am a new player and this will give me something on which to learn maintenance & setup. Unless I suddenly gain the ability to perform miracles, it will probably be turned into a mosaic art piece and hung on the wall.

When I get it, I'll post about my experiences.