You can integrate normal Lego in with the Bionicle/Techinic pieces. Bionicle parts also aren't just stuck as what they are.
All you have to do is troll Brickshelf and you will find heaps of examples.
yeah you're right, especially with the bionicle ball joint to lego brick pieces around now... but they just dont do anything for me, im not that interested in them... i have a few but im not crazy about them