markets aren't features of the land that exist unspoiled until sullied by human hand -- what I see is that markets will always collapse into monopoly absent any countervailing force, for the simple fact that enterprise owners make more profit that way

The drug wars are one hell of a counter example. Although it has "regulation" in the form of military action being taken against the largest, especially when the cartel head gets too big for their britches.

They don't call it "The" cartel because there's one on every corner.

But the point, yet again is that free markets aren't the goal. Market competition is.

Unregulated markets move away from market competition. They move towards monopolies, exclusivity contracts and similar items. Enforcing competition is the only effective method of benefiting society.