if the site became available ...... even for 5 minutes .... than there is no wrong doing in anybody else registering it ...
I am notified 2 fucking months before a domain becomes due ... so if two months is not enough time time to put down another $8 to register it fo one more year ... it is free game to anybody to grab it !!
I don't care how GOOD the name is .... if it is that good .... than you had better well make fucking sure the domain is paid up to date ...