I hate BINs because they allow other people to grab stuff at overly low prices.
I hate non-BINs because there are guessing games and bidding wars.
If you won't or can't pay the BIN, then put in a snipe at whatever you want to pay. If there are no other bids, your snipe will win at the starting price in the last minute.
If somebody else is willing to pay more than you, they will get it. But at least the waters do not get muddied until they have to.
Ebay frustrates people because everyone plays by different rules. Sellers and buyers are both stupid and irrational sometimes.
It took selling several hundred items before I really started to understand the psychology of it all. And selling first made me a better buyer.
But the seller has the power to set up his sale however he wants, and it can be less than optimal for himself and his buyers as well.