I'd like to create rich:panelBarItem from a list i've achieved a similar behavior
using simpleTogglePanel:
<ui:repeat value="#{tagclasses}" var="class">
<rich:simpleTogglePanel switchType="client" label="#{class.name}">
</rich:simpleTogglePanel>
</ui:repeat>
<rich:panelBar>
<ui:repeat value="#{tagclasses}" var="class">
<rich:panelBarItem label="#{class.name}">
</rich:panelBarItem>
</ui:repeat>
</rich:panelBar>Yes, you are right. You are missing very important JSF specific point (and not only you, BWT).
See my answer at
http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4037909#4037909