note - "the use of headphones"
I hate, nay despise the use of headphones and I also hate fan noise. my 280 is currently back on air and I cant stand the fan noise, yes there are perfectly good aftermarket coolers to drop temps therefore reducing fan noise but when every thing's under water the only faint noise I get is the odd click of a HDD and a almost indistinguishable faint pump whirr.
One of my daughters uses hearing aids and cant use headphones, any background noise picks up such as fan noise and spoils her enjoyment of hearing the games she plays, therefore I have her rig water cooled too. OK she doesn't play Crysis. ( her rig isn't powerful enough - much to her disgust
)
Negativity or trying to understand why a "sensible" person does something needs to be approached with an open mind. Could go down the old life choice route here.
I don't see anyone saying, you, as an individual should go to water or why your daft to stay with air. Air suits you, good man.
Personal preference is a strong emotion and to state the industry shouldn't exist is a bit blasé. The industry exists as people have a choice / passion and therefore the industry has grown to support those and provide products to allow them to fulfil their goals.
There are arguments to support - but Im not going to provide this data as I don't have it - that keeping components cool improves their longevity. Just another avenue to consider.
All this and i do consider myself to be sensible - 3kids/2 rabbits /2 cats and a snake makes that statement a lie but there you go
Threads kind of deviating from the product its about but is good to see constructive debates about anything.