There are new systems to bid online, and over the course of a week. Much less stressful, no emotion and heat of the moment bidding. Nothing wrong with open bidding, all about the techniques used in person.
Say an auction closes at 5pm Friday... I bod $500k on Wednesday. Somebody bids $501 Friday 4:50. I bid 502... they 503, right up to the last moment.
And if the site is like some online car auctions, any activity in the last 5 minutes extends the auction by another 5 minutes. So, 504... 505... and on up until somebody walks away.
A home purchase is the largest single thing most people will ever buy. It's going to be emotional, even if the buyer manages to stay calm.