How Often Does Jag need a reinstall?

[Pat D. Stephens]

I'm using my month old iBook just as it came to me without a 
partitioned drive, but am warned that it is dangerous to do that since 
X has reputedly required a reinstall frequently.  Right now, I have 
very little on it that I would lose were that to happen, but I am 
wondering if I should partition it before using it full time.  What's 
the lists' experience here on this topic?  For what it's worth, I've 
installed X versions of PhotoElements2, Office and I believe that's 
all...and it's running just fine.

What say you all?

Pat