My pictures are usually downloaded via a card reader on my laptop, and
then they are copied to TWO other computers for backup.  Since my
'failure rate' with  CDs has been around 75%, I wouldn't even consider
that for a backup medium!

Me too, in the sense that I've been using CF cards a lot as
transferrable data storage ever since they were invented, with no
trouble at all. I've also been using ink pens and sharp knives for
many decades without any trouble. But I do know that there are people
who can't use a pen without serious risk of an inky mess or a sharp
knife without cutting themselves. They're not the kind of people you'd
want to lend a camera or indeed a CF card to.

Same here, but at that point it becomes almost a matter of religion,
like operating systems, text editors, Internet browsers...

At a college where I do their repair and maintenence they have at
least 20 Canon DSLRs that use CF cards. At least 10 have been out for
pin repair and all cost money to repair. Each camera had a single or
more pin bent and after many years of dealing with bent pins the only
sure repair is replacement. Not sure how the pins are getting bent but
the rule is now no cards removed.

I don't usually work on the DSLRs since I have little training on
SLRs. I suppose I could fix them but it is a matter of having the time
to do this.

For my own photography use there is little or no opportunity to check
things as I go along. On occassion I do bring a small TV monitor that
an assistant or myself can use to watch things. But with every
exposure a potential lighting disaster and no chance to repeat the
exposure I just have to depend on my skills to get the picture. The
last big musical event I shot was 1200 or more images in the space of
4 hours. I do watch the exposure counter and take advantage of a break
in the action to change a card if need be, but with the 12GB SanDisk
cards I use card changing is not an issue.

When downloading  I use the Nikon WIA I think it is program to
download the images to the computer. I have had no problems with CDs
retaining te images. Every so often I back up the CDs with a DVD.

I did note that Canon now has a downloader that has an option to
download just the newly exposed images as well as several other new
options.  Maybe I will get to investigate this later this summer.

As you say to each his own.

Bob  AZ