So does it live again Chi or are you just posting a picture to remind yourself of what used to be...?
The side panels Chi is talking about are only for the earlier slab sided SS's. Since you're looking (I think) at later curvy bikes the situation is different. I believe the later fully faired new style bikes have lugs on the top fairing panels to attach the lowers to. The half faired model probably doesn't have those lugs. That'd mean not only would you need the lowers but you'd need new uppers too. Saying that as they come up quite often on ebay it needn't be "that" expensive....
As for why lots of very low mileage late SS's seem to appear on the market how's this for a theory. "Some" people buy them with the expectation of being able to jump on and tear around everywhere with the ease they would on a Japanese bike. They get on this modern style bike and find that it's not massively comfortable, doesn't go very fast and can be a bit of a pig to ride..... All in all it turns into a bit of a disappointment. Owners of older style SS's like Chi, Frank and me know our bike isn't the latest hot poop speed machine. We love the bike the way it is (Wouldn't mind a bit more power though...) and accept that it's all part of the character of owning a 2 valve desmo Ducati. Late style owners may well come to the bike thinking it's a modern up to date bike when in reality it's just an old burner with new clothes.... It doen't make it any the less of a bike but if it's not what you were expecting....
Still what do I know...