It's similar to the SI behavior I still do sometimes, biting. It provides the same pain that pinching does for the same reasons you described but I know I won't break skin by doing it (just bruise it) and breaking skin is one of my few lines that seperates cutting from other SI for me... and I want to keep my record for not cutting.

I wouldn't say pnching is a positive coping mechanism, but it is a coping mechanism none the less, and I don't know how much it hurts you or others to feel right about calling it a negative coping mechanism.

Hope other than that you are doing well.