Flamestrike
Legend
I like the idea of a pick system, randomly determined order reach session.
That way, you're not singling the guy out - your just implementing a new, fair, distribution system.
We keep the same order from session to session, and it just picks up from where it left off last time (like initiative order during a combat).
All items are included in the pool, and at the end of the session, we look at the next name on the list, and they pick from those items.
Players who really want an item (when its not their pick) can exchange a future pick (or picks) for that item if the person whose pick it is agrees (or can exchange something of value to the player who gets the item as normal obviously, like GP or whatever).
I did once see a bidding war for a Staff of Power that was selected by the party Fighter (the other items were scrolls and other minor stuff) between the party Warlock and Wizard. It eventually went for 5 future picks (and because it was late game, those items were pretty ace every time they came up!)