Well I didn't expect to get bagged on for my chosen method of backing up my files. And contrary to popular belief, I am backing them up, maybe not in whoever's chosen method, but my stuff is backed up to my satisfaction.

Not really, no.
It's used as one device, and if you delete a file - it's GONE for ever.
There is no backup!
Not really, no. If you sync via a contribute contribute action, then the items are added to the array, but they are never deleted unless you go in and delete them off the drive. It's a one way sync, the files only go onto the drive from the original drive.

I'll admit I may have caused the damage to the Maxtor drives by just yanking them, but the chance for the damage is in the corruption of files from removing USB without safely removing hardware.