Is it safe enough to buy a reasonable condition N64 these days?

RGB modding is certainly the way go IMO on original units - S-Video is decent, was really the way to go with imported units back in the day. Mentioned already above, but if looking to hook up to a modern display, the Analogue 3D would be an option whenever it ends up back on sale depending on how much you're willing to sink in - certainly starts to become a real alternative when people start to look into HDMI mods on real consoles. Serious lack of actual real footage of it though ahead of it's debut this month. Analogue's prior excellent record is all the hype right now. May end up jailbroken in the end as well going on what's happened to their other devices which could negate the need for a flash cart, but no guarantee on that.

The other modern option, leaving aside the baggage associated with Palmer Luckey and his military collaborations just for a moment for arguments sake, is ModRetro's upcoming M64. Looks to be an implementation of the existing MiSTer core, but with nothing yet to show of it (bar a promo piece purporting to show Mario Kart running on a unit which is not visible) it's a bit of an unknown quantity, but with an agressive $200 target in this tariff economy, plus their Chromatic's previous good showing, it may well do what is promised.

If you play NTSC games on a PAL N64 via a converter or more reliably an Everdrive, they play at 60Hz without borders or at least extra borders.

Some (all?) support S-Video too which works great on a CRT.

Sounds like the expedited shipping option with DHL or some such? Guaranteed to be charged that way. Strange though as anything I've bought from Japan recently (and the US), eBay has handled all of the taxes.

Aye, sounds like it just went went through a normal point to point sale from the seller and you'll always have to pay the VAT at entry in any case. If the seller used the Ebay Global Shipping programme or International Shipping programme as some countries call it, there would have been a breakdown of the extra estimated fees and it would be added on at checkout. Bit odd as most sellers willing to post internationally would normally be signed up to it - might just be worth revsiting the item page to see it if mentions either programme.

Either way it's going to be paid - it's the one thing we seem to be good at at a bureaucratic level over here 🤣 But at least there's no import duty, so swings and roundabouts.

It was around 60 euro, customs was something like 45. Auction fees/storage/price I forget. Won't be doing again.