How about ... RAID isn't backup. RAID is there for system interruption protection. RAID is there to keep flickr cruising along without interruption. If they

How about ... RAID isn't backup. RAID is there for system interruption protection. RAID is there to keep flickr cruising along without interruption. If they delete content from a volume covered by RAID, then all the mirrored copies go poof simultaneously. What you are suggesting is a higher level content management system. Apparently (from the drift of the comments) that is something flickr doesn't want to get involved with.