The fee was designed so that people wouldn't use the auctions as a free storage/moving service. Though with SDBs and homes as they are now, I'm not sure why you'd ever need to use it that way anymore.
I do admit, I kinda liked the old commission system better, so failed auctions weren't so saddening D=.
There has always been an unrefundable fee. In the past there was also a commission if the item sold.
Last week they extended the length of time an auction lasts. So now, instead of paying a fee every day, you only pay a couple times a week. And if the item sells, the fee + commission is less than it was under the old system.
In other MMO's the listing fee is refundable if the item goes unsold. I'm not arguing whether it has existed, I just want it to be refundable. My personal opinion :)