You know avv you always point out the right faults and what you say makes sense. A lot.
I was thinking more of a right click, drop-down menu function tagging, like when you want to use an item in your inventory (I don't know where people got the safe slot idea) I think that would slow the process down enough to kill the pvp looter, before he can tag the stolen item.
Of course this still wouldn't fix the problem with the Junktown example...
Ok, what if item multiples (caps, ammo, chemical components, mats) aren't taggable. That way this function couldn't be used for shopping (I dont think anyone will create a low lvl alt jut to do a one item exchange), and would prevent safe gathering builds.