Thanks David,
I have grids working using a similar approach - as long as noone uses the grid binding manager in the designer to reconfigure databindings.
So the workaround for the problem to enable the grid binding manager to be used to reconfigure the grid seems to be: first change the grid view back to standard, reconfigure using the grid binding manager, change back to an advanced banded grid view, then use the grid control designer to put the columns back into bands.