It's my opinion that when you set your reserve as your starting price on an auction you scare away prospective bidders who would have warmed up to the price if it had been unknown and gradually worked up to. I am sure that many auctions lose bidders due to sticker shock so to speak.

I see no difference between a reserve price and a high starting bid except that the reserve price just adds an annoying period of pointless bidding to an auction.

Again it's my opinion is you lose some bidders with the higher starting price but I respectfully disagree. I'm sure there are many who feel as you but many more on the reverse. Otherwise Ebay would be a BIN only vehicle.
Well maybe not totally