let's say in the process of normal bidding somewhere around the $35 range, the high bidder happens to place his max bid at $50 . . . okay, now let's assume that i see the bidding at $35 and i also place a max bid at $50 (i know that he placed his first so his will have priority over mine) . . . after i place my $50 bid i think i would see "you are not the high bidder, you have been outbid, you need to bid $51" or something to that effect, right? Correct, if your bid had happened to be 48.50, eBay would tell you your bid would have to be at least $50.50 (again one increment above the current price of 49.50)
but if he had a max bid that was at least $51 (or even if his max bid was $60 for example), then wouldn't it say "you not the high bidder, you have been outbid, you need to bid $52" or something like that which would indicate that my $50 bid pushed his bid to $51, so my next bid [of a full increment] would need to be $52? Correct again !
so, therefor, in reality, if a person really wanted to waste all of that time, (s)he could figure out within "one full increment" of what the highest existing bid is . . . is this right or am i mistating something? Yes, you've got it, but why waste all that time? The most you will pay is one increment above the next to highest bidder anyway.
When nibbling against a high proxy, each successive bid you place is 2 increments. In your second example where the high proxy is $60 and you bid 50, that pushes the current price to 51, so your next minimum bid would have to be $52. Also, remember that each bid you place is a chance you will take the lead.