I'm concerned we're ignorant on this point... or the assumptions are so far off due to some fundamental difference between markets or business models I'm blind to.

Perhaps take a step back and understand the locations fundamentals and how those impact the investments future profits. 

Fundamental problem with the platform APIs is that there is no distinction between blackedout time vs booked time.

Those fundamentals have not changed either.

Should the system fundamentally put the interests of the real estate agent in direct conflict with those of his clients?"

On the surface, the answer appears to be simple...BUT one will caution that in order to make a true determination, it requires a lot of actual research on a local market/neighborhood and the answer is actually much more in-depth...so take this with a grain of salt..lolClass A- Newer Growth Areas (new construction, rebuilding of infrastructure, core fundamentals reflect strong growth, low unemployment, pro-active government, home prices increasing, vacancy rates decreasing, demand slightly higher than supply, School Districts usually have a 5+ rating, etc.)Class B - Older yet Stable Areas (Little new construction, no major fluctuation in growth or reduction of population, little to no change in employment opportunities or unemployment rates, infrastructure is old yet functional and not being updated, supply and demand are fairly equalized, rental vs home ownership relatively equal, home prices stabilized, School Districts usually have a 3-5 rating, low to moderate crime rates, etc.) 

Hydro power generates more energy than is input into the power plant because the sun moves the water from the oceans uphill by way of rain.Petroleum produces more energy than is consumed in extracting, refining an transporting it because biological organisms captured the suns energy in the form of converting simple molecules into more complex ones.There are fundamentally only two sources of energy available to us with out current knowledge of physics - solar and radioactive decay.

We are reading recommended books from this forum and trying to learn the fundamentals of the business.We are accredited investors and debating how to maximize investing $100,000.....passive investor on a syndication, make our own deal and find a sponsor on an apartment complex, use that as a 20% down on a smaller multi-unit? 

But, YOU already know: stick to YOUR fundamentals instead!

Columbus' economic fundamentals are just so far above and beyond Dayton that you see substantially more appreciation really in any area.