I am at a loss as to how the linked storage bins are supposed to make sense; given that so much of the game is devoted to making aspects of the game so close to reality, it seems a little odd that such a thing would not be explained in the game so as to not result in that carefully crafted immersion being broken. What do you think?

I think it makes as much sense as not being able to hold two plants of the same type at the same time. Or having a back pack that can gold more items.

Much as those quirks have come to irritate me, there's a fine line between the character acting stupidly and the game world suddenly playing host to a phenomenon that can only be explained by magic. Either way, it's probably going to get me killed, but I'm holding off on using these things.

Yeah, just don't use them if you don't want to - items don't despawn from the ground anyway, so it's all good. I for one welcome the presence of this feature, as I don't quite have as much time for gaming as I'd like to and backtracking isn't exactly something I want to do with my gaming time.