I don't know the answer to the first question (though off and on for 4 days or so seems about right), but I am pretty sure about the answer to the 2nd question.
That answer would be: The value was in the lesson learned.
Total time.. about 8 hours.. This facility is about 25 miles from my house, so that's a bunch of gas too. The value is in fact in the lesson learned. When I factor in my $50 bid plus about $40 in gas.. I'm making money, but I wasted parts of 4 days for clean out. So, will I do it again, definitely not.. I was so focused on the contents of the unit that I turned a blind eye to the potential for this kind of clean out.
Let me answer a question before it's asked. I didn't clean it all out in one shot because I wanted to give people an opportunity to pick up some free stuff if it was needed. If I can help someone out with some free materials and keep this stuff out of landfills, I'll wait a few days to clear out. Tuesday was the last day I had to clean it out and I dedicated the whole day to clean up when this guy offered to take everything.