Got on my LGS' wait list three weeks ago. And, while chatting with the owner (a friend) he told me that he would have no hard feelings if I could find it sooner or cheaper OTD than what he could deliver.
Went to one of those hated online sites and started watching a number of auctions. Watched patterns of prices, starting bids, selling prices, etc.
Did this for about a week. Not glued to the screen. Just checked emails for alerts. And figured what my max bid would be to allow addition of transfer, shipping, taxes (yeah, taxes, taxes, taxes. Joker's gonna ger her pound of flesh) and still be good OTD.
Sunday morning, put in a bid with a max that was still way under my real max. Auction ended that afternoon. I had won it with the minimum bid. No other bidders.
Picked it up that Friday. Still under what my LGS could deliver OTD.
Two weeks total from getting serious about the hunt to in my hands.