If it's something I really want, I snipe. If it's something I like but it doesn't really matter if I win it or not, I bid.
Sniping gets rid of shill bids and it does not give the other person a chance to think about the fact that he was outbid and then after a few minutes, hours, or days decide that they really want it and increase their bids. So sniping saves you money. Sniping is your friend!!
The pleasures of sniping for me would be the satisfaction of beating someone out at the last second. Yep, that is a good feeling to win the race.
If I loose, well then at least I jacked it up and that person paid more.
It goes both ways though. I remember bidding on something and there were three or more of us snipers and I won, but boy did we all jack up the price to the point of almost having buyers remorse. But at least I won and that person can say well at least I made that other person (me) spend some serious cash.