While I'm not a complete noob to Linux, I do have a beginner type question. I like my current OpenSuSE 10.2 desktop install at home. I have setup samba, firefox, email, vsftpd, networking, etc. etc.

Now it is all customized just like I like it. Of course, like any great techie, I'm ready to load a new distro. I've grown tired of the long waits while rug "wakes up" ZMD. I want to go back to a Debian based system because the package management has always brought me back.

My biggest question for all you repeat distro hoppers. What have you found to be the easiest way to keep your files and customized settings while going from distro to distro?

Leave the /home partition in tact and collect a few .conf files to take to the next installation? Is there a better way? I have a handful of users (family members and a couple of ftp users) that I want to minimize the disruption to as well.

That's pretty much what I do. It's okay to keep some of the .files, but unless you don't want to part with the configuration for a certain program, the more you can part with the better. Old configuration files can be headaches sometimes; if you have problems on your new distro with a program, try removing your configuration for it.