I'm the kind of person who shuts off the computer when not using it, closes all browser tabs, closes everything, and cleans the desk. I also don't pollute my vision with toolbars, favorites, trinkets, widgets, or any of that jazz. My desktop stays pretty much empty. I disobey Windows at every step of the way. My Documents, empty. Downloads, empty. Pictures, empty. All important data is/are saved to a separate partition than the one Windows is on, and then uploaded to my server. This makes every computer I sit at - public or private - a viable workstation for me, and I never have moments like "oh that thing I need is saved elsewhere". Was using a homemade cloud before it was cool.
That said, I never have the same file open twice, let alone open twice for edits. You *trust* your computer enough to handle that? I tend to leave complexity management where it belongs in my life - in my head!