is there a way to save the current image as a .bin file so that if i make a mistake down the road i can just re-flash or if i wanted to give the copy to someone else they could just re-flash?

I've finnally got metasploit and set going.. but if i mess something up i want to make sure i can get it all back... and not bang my head trying to remember everything i did the first time..

I have an N810 running Diablo

What you need to do is use PenguinBait's tool to clone your install to a SD card. Then you can easily dd the SD card install from a desktop/laptop computer (running Linux) regularly.

console-tools:
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=25714

He also has a cool KDE image:
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=20317
http://penguinbait.com/

Also check out qole's http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=34713 easy debian chroot.

Also look up various patches from qwerty12.

I highly recommend getting a 8gb microSD card + microSD->miniSD adapter card. Clone your install to the SD and boot from the SD card. It makes it easier to backup as well as gives you room to grow.

I know you are new to the community so be sure to pick up a USB OTG cable + linksys usb100m ethernet adapter as well if you haven't already.

I too am interested in the original poster's request. I would like to make it as simple as possible for folks to get a n8x0 and get up to date with minimal fuss.

How would one go about creating a *.bin suitable for reflashing a device?

I would like to take the stock latest firmware, install the CSSU, and Diablo Turbo... and create *.bin from that.

One big problem with that is that even if you could do it easily the image would contain proprietary stuff (C) Nokia and wouldn't be redistributable :-(

For personal use, you could make a dump of the rootfs/initfs/kernel partitions with something like mtd-utils' nanddump, but the rootfs result at lease would probably not be very reliable if taken on a running system (initfs is generally mounted ro so should be alright). I suppose it could be done if you could install bootmenu first, clone the system to SD and boot that.

Alternatively you could rsync the entire rootfs to a linux box and create a fresh jffs2 with the contents there.

Then there's the pesky matter of creating a flashable image out of the raw partition images... Search for "fiasco-gen".