Walt,
It is obvious that you have never gone to a "live" auction. In many auction environments lots start at ridiculously low prices, even though they have a high reserve. This creates the necessary "action" to get to the reserve. If you start an item at a high price, many bidders will flee.
The reserve on the Ore House set is fairly based on the fact that I have sold a few of these for over $200.
No, it is not a way of getting a high price only to sell them for less than my reserve. If they don't sell at what I want for them, I would really prefer to hang on to them and will do so.
I regret that this practice bothers you, but that is something that you will have to deal with on your own level. Kind of a waste of energy if you ask me!