I think that sometimes you may run into the red-neck recyclers who have a chip on their shoulder about "college boys". I've seen that more than I like (though not with recyclers) here in Texas. Then again, it may just be that they've been sniffing the gold reclamation chemicals a little too long.
It seems that Goodwill is contracted to do all of Austin's computer recycling, and if they don't feel like putting something on the sales floor, there's no avenue that will let you get a look at it.
Jeff