Ubuntu becomes unusable - force fsck when needed

[john e]

My thoughts:
 scenario: home computer.
  Ext3 (+maybe raid) should be used for your /home partion. Period
  Exotic FSs may be usefull for / partion. Keep a recent backup.
 end.

User data's largest value is in that it is unique. Ya loose it... ya
loose it.. boo hoo.
A root partion may rely on something less robust on cheap hardware.
You can always re-install with little chance of data corruption
(preferably on different physical drives)

Reiser4 interests me, but only for hda1:

My 1.5 cents