The problem with Ticketmaster is pretty much that they are the only game in town so.... The auction thing is something they say they are trying to keep the front rows of seats for fans and not ticket scalpers. It's a reality of life if you want the first ten rows for almost any big time show you are going to pay for them.

Pre- sales are always a crossection of tickets, they aren't going to release all the good seats 2 days early, they'd have nothing to show off come general sale time.