[meatloaf]

Until a few months ago, I would have agreed with you. Go to slashdot and do a search. A topic on that site referenced the technical article describing the technique. As long as the disks can be removed from the hard drive and examined, the data can be retrieved ... even after reformating.

FWIW, the everyday hacker won't have the equipment.

[Calpernia]

Does that include low level formatting?