I would like to weigh in on this (not sure if this is the right place). I really hope it would be possible to compile in spite of bibtex errors. I have hundreds of LyX files, and none of them compile any more. Let's say I collaborate with a colleague (who uses LaTeX). The colleague gives me a BiBTeX file. I use a few references from there. But the file has problems with other entries. Now I have to go in and correct my colleagues numerous (non-important) errors just to get these few reference.
One idea of LyX is that it's a front-end to LaTeX. But now suddenly, things that compile fine in LaTeX (many BibTeX errors are non-essential) no longer works in LyX. That makes it difficult to collaborate with people who use LaTeX (I certainly try to "sell" LyX to my colleagues, but many are too used to pure LaTeX).
