I just keep my data on an OS that doesn't require regular reinstalls.

Yep, me too. And it's not just the regular reinstalls issue. Well, actually it is, but Bitt's post comes across a bit harsher (Unix fanboy-wise) than I'd prefer.

I keep almost all of my data on my Linux box, where backing it up is easier, as is getting to it when I'm away from my desktop PC.

But frankly, I've given up on the whole separate applications/data partitions thing. I do occasionally use subst to keep stuff separate. But I don't think that hard partitioning is the right answer.

And I don't buy Tony's point about fragmentation, either -- Windows comes with a perfectly functional defrag program.

But that's just IMO.