@missioncoonery Based on my observations you're in a small minority, vast majority claim PP always on buyer's side. As others have mentioned and experienced, no real forensics undertaken by PP, most disputes resolved by algorithms.
I suppose I understand their finding for buyer in most cases, buyer happy, at least seller gets item returned to them. I've had two disputes as buyer with PP, won both cases without long delays.
The one thing I don't understand about your case is, I know seller cut off communications with you so you're distrust of him understandable. But how do you know damage wasn't caused by shipping? Did you talk about that possibility with seller? If not, I can more understand his intransigence, he may have perceived your initial contact as provocation.
Since seller won in what seems like rare case with PP, one has to assume he had documentation on his side, or a better story.