I'm only 73, so I may not qualify for the same "back in the day" of which you speak! I was, in fact, made such an offer, when I picked my gensets up, several months ago. Told that the parts offered had not yet been photographed and prepared for auction, I agreed to take them, after my initial protests. The units I had won, however, were shown in auction photos as being complete, and a friend had pre-inspected them and found them complete, as advertised! Consequently, it appeared that I wasn't about to get what I had bid on and won - not quite the same as bidding on an item, knowing that certain parts are missing. I had bid nearly twice the going price, just because those gensets WERE complete, and very low time! We're looking, here, at not just cannibalization, but false advertising by GL!
Not sure where the comment about "Investigations Division" comes from, but I have participated in several GL auctions since this one - investigate away - I have nothing to hide!