Another collector shared a response he received from the seller. which to summarize, stated that she would not respond to specific questions regarding how the cue rolled or it's amount of lift off the table.
She further stated that she provided "plenty of photos and stated to "bid accordingly".
Her final comment was this:
"I have already had two collectors tell me just from viewing the photos it will need a repair that will be a few hundred dollars but is well worth it."
Scot at Proficient once dropped the comment to me that Model M's are a more difficult cue to refinish which I would interpret as meaning that additional refinish costs would be involved.
My tally on the repairs to this cue along with sourcing an original second shaft is ~$750. I shared the pics with a cuemaker yesterday to get his opinion. He thought $750 was in the ballpark, but added that having the cue in-hand might reveal additional problems.
My take is that bidders in this auction have not fully read and interpreted the sellers vague description nor fully examined the pictures.
Thankfully, this cue is personalized which will always make it traceable as it changes hands in the future.