Pine needles are best left under pine trees, where they protect roots from drying. Another way to keep a leaf mulch from blowing is to sprinkle it with water right after the mulch is laid down. Lawn grass will die if you don't rake all the fall leaves off. Earthworms will turn leaf bits and grass clippings into black humus topsoil around the grass roots. Leaves only need to be raked off the lawn if the leaf layer is so thick that it blocks out the sun.
Trees respond well to the leaf mulch like that found on the forest floor.
Hose the pile once with a gentle spray to keep leaves from blowing away. Or sprinkle straw or pine needles on top to hold leaves down in a wind. Leaves mixed half and half with grass clippings make good compost. To get fast results, do not pack down but pile in a heap between 4 feet high and 8 feet high. A bin is not essential but may help keep leaves from blowing.