Yeah, the dust issue is an issue but....
Look who we are talking about here. Most of us guys have the case off our computer at least once a week, to see what it looks like, if not to try a new piece of hardware. The insides probably pick up more dust than the desk it sits on does. Everyone who tinkers with a computer should have a can of compressed air, if not and air compressor. I thought most of us guys have an aircompressor out in the garage, with 75 foot of 3/8" hose draped across the wifey's washer and dryer, through the kitchen, down the hall, and into our den, with an assorment of quick attach nozzles inside our Computer Tool case!!!
For those that don't tinker on a weekly basis, about once every 3 months with a can of compressed air will clean it right up, get the dust out of those hard to reach places, and make everything OK again. Even with dust filters, this should still be done once in a while, as no matter how hard you try not to let it, dust will enter, it will hinder the effeciency of that $119 ZEN Miniature Airconditioner CPU cooler, (can you believe that? I saw those for the first time last week on the internet, and actual miniature Air Conditioning unit stuck to a heat sink) and, if you DO use filters for those fans, then you have another issue. Those little filters, (if they are working correctly), will fill up with dust faster than it will build up inside your computer. Those have to be taken off and cleaned out well, or else you might as well remove the fans and get better circulation. I think it is easier to blow-out the inside of the case & components, than to remove those little filters to clean them, then have to blow out the computer as well anyway. Heck, right now I'm running my new computer with both sides off. Well, that's another story, had a faulty PSU, so I have to return it. Don't have any spare 300W PSU's sitting around, so I'm using a 230W PSU to power the MotherBoard and the power hungry AMD CPU only, then I have another 150W PSU outside the case to powre up all the harddrives, fans, & all the other lights & buzzers. Hey, I wasn't sure if it would work, I've heard of people needing a 400W power supply to keep a T-Bird stable, but mine is on a Soltek Mobo, and 230W is fine, as long as I don't push too hard, (I've already tried that, and it gets tired real fast.
But Hey, that's my two cents worth, I guess each has their own preferences. I've never had a hard drive go out on me, and we have 5 computers at home, one for each kid, one for me and one for my wife, (yes, our 4 year old has his own computer). The oldest computer is about 7 years old now, and still has all the original equipment except for the CDROM. We even have a very old Pentium 90 system, (picked up at a yard sale for parts) that still has it's original harddrive, and it still works. Just keep the stuff clean with a once in a while routine maintainance of blowing it out, and you shouldn't have to worry about the dust.
Now, that takes us back to air circulation.............
Now don't anyone get offended, I just love to talk shop..... I was really curious as to why I've read about so many people doing this, ubt now I understand. yes, I do understand that point of view, I guess I just more focused on the air circulation, and not so much on the dust issue. Thank you PCHPlayer for the response......