"Silly?" Hardly.  Reserves are there for the seller
to protect his/her investment while starting the 
bids low enough to encourage bidding.  It may also
discourage the non-serious bidders on a item while
does nothing to deter the serious buyers.  With
higher priced investment cels, one does not want
to possibly lose ones investment. Serious collectors
know this and reserves will not phase them at all.