plot hoarders?

Has anyone come across people who have plots but flat out aren't using them and refuse to sell them?

Without being too specific...I have a small house on an island and I noticed that there was a 7x7 plot with walls but absolutely nothing else in it on the same screen. I noticed for a couple of months that it was always either slightly or somewhat worn but I never saw the owner there.
I later found the owner on the forums who said he was thinking of selling it, I offered some money and he seemed to agree to the amount. We logged on, I got the check and ran to the house to meet him only to be met with an awkward silence....

He then said..."what if I just make you a co owner of the house instead of selling it?" I wasn't interested in that and just left.

All of this happened around a month ago and the little 7x7 is still there, unused and empty but also periodically refreshed.

It reminded of something like that tv series "hoarders" where someone has something and are willing to get rid of it but then back off at the last minute and keep it instead.
But the while thing got me wondering, has anyone else experienced this? I have noticed a lot of other plots over the years that never seem to be used.

Yep, it happens.

its all the empty 18x18's that have been sitting for 5 months never used or sold just refreshed that make me

i sold the sacrifice shrine house to someone and they havent touched it in like 8 months. Just an empty plot still. It's either that they're waiting for inflation, which will never happen here, or guy who bought it is in the navy. Likely the latter tbh, it's just a tiny plot not worth much anyways.

One thing it could also be though is people who are competitors with UOF for the freeshard playerbase market coming here and swooping up as many of the nicer plots as they can, but that's tinfoil hat talk and im on my meds today so I won't bother getting into it.