I didn't want to flame here because our deal is not everyone's business, but since you started posting here...
Maybe you are right, maybe I'm right. I guess we have different points of view on transaction.
Here is my point of view:
1. It took very long time to force him to use escrow. Before that he was suggesting lots of stuff including cheque, paying half in front and half on delivery, etc. Honest client wouldn't have problem with escrow.
2. He used different name for escrow. He said its name of his "partner", but said that I should not talk to his "partner" and only talk to him. His "partner" is supposed to send money. Then it appeared that its no a "partner", but he's an agent of client and buying for that client, not for himself.
3. He set amount to $3,000 higher than we agreed, and asked me to transfer those extra $3,000 to him once I get the money. And combined with request not to talk to his "partner" it all sounds very fishy.
First huge delay with starting escrow, acting like he never used escrow before even though I've checked and he does have account on escrow.com associated with his email address. Then adding extra $3,000 and request not to talk to "partner". Also he asked me to close all threads where I was selling and remove all information about sale from those threads so noone would know about it. If he would be honest with his "partner" then he would pay me my requested price and get that $3,000 separately directly from his "partner", not from me. Then it appears that he isn't buying for himself, but for his "partner" who isn't partner at all but his client and he is an agent of that client.
All that doesn't sound too good and there is a good chance someone gets scammed - me or his "partner". Ether way its fishy so I desided to cancel it. Better to cancel it little bit late than be sorry after transaction. After all, I'm selling my whole network, not just a single domain, so I prefer to be very careful about who I sell to and in this deal too many details don't add up.