Notices

I empirically suggest some care when you shut down your n900. Do a sync in xterm before, so you're sure that everything gets written properly on the flash memory. Then shutoff by the button or give a sudo halt command. Maybe I'm too prudent, but in the last few weeks I've had to reflash too many times (and I wasn't running swappolube yet).

any way to automate those precautions so it always happens regardless of how i shut down (i mean, other than when pulling the battery and alike), including sudo reboot ?

This is all done automatically when turning the device off via the power button menu. In fact, "halt", "reboot", and "poweroff" will also sync your filesystems before doing their thing, unless you run them with "-n".

Who knows? Nobody. What did you expect?

Remember to backup.


Always!

that is why i'm asking about how long i shuold wait for the early adopters to start reporting issues before i try it myself

you should make a backup and try it now.
if your device explodes you can make a reflash

It takes too long to reinstall and setup everything again, i wanna avoid reflashing as much as possible

If so then to maximize odds for keeping your device in shape I suggest that:

- Do not in any means install stuff from devel or testing repositories
- Do not install random packages from from "cool" webpages that show you "amazing" new software
- Do not install packages from TMO message attachements

Capiche?

The answer is never. We could all be fine and you could have an issue with it.

For example, I was priding myself on never reflashing since December (OTA), with -devel activated and several things installed, like OC kernel.

Then I installed that package that allows you to start what you want on camera slide (can't remember the name). After that, reboot and the phone started, loaded up until the desktop and, when it came time to populate desktop with widgets, reboot.

Had to reflash. I'm pretty sure it's wasn't the package, but the straw that broke the camel's back. Actually, I suspect the currency widget, it's been behaving strangely. Nonetheless, the camera launcher is fine, everyone uses it.

How long before I joined in? Didn't matter.

Point is, you never know, you might as well join in. I'd go for backup menu if you are a reflash hater (aren't we all).

On a brighter note, all this changes are some settings. I find the likelihood of flash-worthy issues to be close to nil.

I am sorry to ask the obvious, but have you tried sacrificing a black goat and drawing "666" with its blood across your N900's screen? I am pretty sure it won't fix any packages but may fix the reboot loop. =)