The bidding goes back to the regular setup as soon as one bid is made on an item that has been put in as a BIN.

The BIN price is only available before a bid is put in. If someone bids then the piece goes to whoever bids the most at the end of the auction just like any other regular auction.

I did not mean to say that the BIN was exactly like the Reserve price feature. But they both take away from a straight auction. it makes the bidder play a different game.

You are right that the piece could go for less than the BIN as opposed to not being able to go for less than the reserve. this is part of the trade off- if you set the BIN correctly, that is high enough, and someone wants it now you get what you want(your price) and they get what they want(the piece). If you go the other route and use a reserve and it is not met you get nothing and have to pay the fee anyway.

Dennis