I don't think this is a concern in a virtual environment.
Once the OS is loaded, there is no reinstalling. One copy of the newly installed virtual machine can be duplicated endlessly, if the originally provisioned storage space is adequate.
Virtual machines can be network transfered to the care of virtual servers on a variety of popular hosts. Running a virtual XP machine on a Linux host is an excellent combination for the home user.
Hardware is virtual; a hardware emulation layer supplied by VMware. As long as the server's configuration isn't changed, the hardware signature remains the same.
Running a virtual machine on an open source host is thrifty. No cost for the host system, no cost for the virtual server and no cost for additional, Microsoft licenses.
Running a virtual machine on an open source host is relatively painless, even for Microsoft users. Both installation of the host distribution and the virtual server is menu driven and there are many OS specific how-tos available on the web. XP doesn't phone home at installation and security upgrades aren't necessary since this vulnerable software is behind several layers of obfuscation on a simple home network. If the OS is corrupted, the machine is simply deleted and a duplicate copy transfered from memory.
There are only three inconveniences that I've encountered using this arrangement. Processing speed in the virtual environment is somewhat reduced. Using LTP1 communication for older imaging devices requires disabling a default module at host start up. Transferring data between the virtual machine and the host requires a NAS.
For these small inconveniences I gain relatively secure surfing on the host, no need to constantly patch Microsoft and the availability of XP to play with the latest, fad applications or peripheral specific drivers as they become available.
It is when your Vista Home Edition states that you can't use it in a VM.
Anyway, I love VMs too. I use one at home so the wife can do all the registry-destroying gaming she wants, and at work with a large virtualized network.