Don't be an idiot!

[MeatPounder]

Originally Posted by cd34

Raid doesn't prevent accidental deletion of a directory tree.
Raid doesn't help if your machine is stolen or burns in a fire.
Raid doesn't help if you get a virus that overwrites your MBR. Raid will faithfully write those changes to the mirror.

Don't get me wrong, Raid is good, but, its still no substitute for making backups, preferably off-site backups.

And I couldn't get Raid-1 working in my laptop -- so, nightly, my laptop is backed up to a storage server that maintains 5 generations on raid. And those are backed up to a disk that goes in the safe on a monthly basis. Recently, I've decided that another backup needs to be maintained at the local bank.

You are absolutely right.
Though the first and third are usually quite easily fixed and everything recovered...not always possible with a hard drive failure, and always expensive when it is possible.
You would be surprised how many people actually do their "backups" to a partition on the same drive, or even a second fixed drive in their system and think they are safe.
The Raid is an inexpensive and easy option that only protects against a catastrophic hard drive failure.
It should only be a part of a comprehensive plan to secure your data.
It all depends on how vital you think the data is, and how far you feel you need to go to protect it.
Removable backups are a must either with a removable drive, usb drive, cd/dvd etc...and a copy of that should always be kept in another location then the original...a different building if possible. And as I mentioned with just about everyone having broadband now a days online options are quite attractive for added security