I disagree; I have a handful of domains without active sites on them as well, for projects that I still want to do but haven't gotten to yet.
I've had experiences in the past of letting a domain expire and then being "ready" to use it a few years down the line. Of course, it was invariably squatted, and had been since I'd let it go, and would cost more than I was able to justify paying to get it back.
On the other hand, I actually had a working project running on wishmash.com that wasn't getting enough traffic to make it worthwhile, so I sold the domain when I got a reasonable offer. If I hadn't sold it, though, would that have have been "squatting is squatting is squatting" as well? I could put up forums and/or tiny sites on all domains I have -- then it wouldn't be squatting either?
There's a whole range of possible levels of domain usage. I don't have any domain that I haven't spend at least a few hours researching the space & competitors, documenting implementation (and sometimes starting it), and so on.
I'm sure I won't actually build some of these projects. But I don't know which. Of course from the outside this can look the same as a simple squatter hoping for a big payout; but that doesn't mean it is the same.
I think there is a misunderstanding of my point. I'm trying to say that at the point that you list your domain that you intended to use but do not for a crazy sum, that is when you become a squatter. Simply holding onto a site with the intent to use it for a few years isn't. It's all about the spirit and intention.
I've had experiences in the past of letting a domain expire and then being "ready" to use it a few years down the line. Of course, it was invariably squatted, and had been since I'd let it go, and would cost more than I was able to justify paying to get it back.
On the other hand, I actually had a working project running on wishmash.com that wasn't getting enough traffic to make it worthwhile, so I sold the domain when I got a reasonable offer. If I hadn't sold it, though, would that have have been "squatting is squatting is squatting" as well? I could put up forums and/or tiny sites on all domains I have -- then it wouldn't be squatting either?
There's a whole range of possible levels of domain usage. I don't have any domain that I haven't spend at least a few hours researching the space & competitors, documenting implementation (and sometimes starting it), and so on.
I'm sure I won't actually build some of these projects. But I don't know which. Of course from the outside this can look the same as a simple squatter hoping for a big payout; but that doesn't mean it is the same.