I think it actually is a very good idea to go see how the process follows through. I am particularly interested to see what happens when there is lowball bidding but the bidding does not hit the reserve price. I assume that the property will not be sold but maybe the lender will suck it up and let the property go. The starting bids for many of these homes are definitely more in line with the Piggington posters estimates for what the housing market should be after or later in the depreciated cycle.
If anyone is looking to actually purchase one of the properties for real, then definitely do your homework, visit the open houses on the specific dates that the auction specifies, get your due diligence done, (inspections etc) and make sure all your ducks in a row before making the bid.