As a vendor, I could not agree more. The politics surrounding each individual MLS is a nightmare, and every time there is a rule change for public display of MLS data, it comes in the form of a 50 page document that the agents don't read, they just sign without realizing how they constantly make life harder for themselves.

Openness of the MLS lies in the hands of the Agents, and they should be demanding free and open access to their listing data so they can sell more properties, but they just stick the the status quo.

Here's how it works. Agents PAY their local MLS's to take THEIR DATA, then the MLS charges THEM to be able to take it back and use it.

It's the most absurd system I've ever seen.