That's harsh, PSM.
'> I really hope that someone surfaces with more salvaged stuff.
Backing up is great and definitely important, but it doesn't always help. I had a primary HDD and the backup fail at the same time. Total nightmare. These days I tend to put things on external HDDs, online, and on memory sticks, just in the hope that somehow all that can't get hit at once, but it could still happen somehow...
Honestly, I'm impressed that you're being so calm about this. I'd be flipping several lids in a very undignified fashion.