Hi Cross Check,
Sorry for taking so much time to answer. First I was traveling, and when I returned I couldn't access the forum (and by now it's still slow, despite using DSL connection - the hackers...)
Regarding your last message, you said
Couldn't believe Boeing would be so dumb
Well, if you think that would make Boeing dumb...I'd have to tell you that your "-200 old dog" was wrong. When you select STBY BUS, you will power only AC STBY BUS (no big deal, hummm). The matter is that L ENG BLEED is connected to BUS TRANSFER 1 (and so is ISOLATION VALVE), and R ENG BLEED is on BUS TRANSFER 2.
So, even placing the switch to STBY BUS you wouldn't be able to operate ENG BLEEDS, as transfer busses 1 & 2 wouldn't be powered - and we return to the starting point, when I said you couldn't start you engine if bleeds were off and you haven't AC power!
That's it, friend!
PP