I am just curious as to why there is reluctance to bid on items with a reserve?

I can understand a seller not wanting to let an item of value go for well below its intrinsic or market value. If I choose to sell a first edition $5 Sands in new to slightly used condition, there is not enough data to accurately say what the market price is but I know I would hate to see it go for $20, hence a reserve will be slapped on that one. This also insures against a mistake when entering the listing. If I list the item with an error in spelling or in the category and no one sees the listing when searching it might get snapped up for less than a single dollar. Before you say that doesn't happen...just search on ebay for the word "glod" and see how many spelling errors occur. Many of those errors will result in sellers selling GOLD items for pennies. Now apply that to every misspelling possible for every item. Sometimes you just have to have a safety net.

If, as a buyer, you submit a bid that you feel is fair and it is below the reserve, you have the ability to move on from the item. The seller does have the ability to offer a second chance to a bidder if said seller realizes the market is just not inline with his expectations. But at the end of the day, reserve or no reserve, you, as a buyer, have the ability to pay what you think is fair.