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Having built my third (out of 3) sucessful computer without an anti-static wriststrap, and having installed several cards in my PC without incident, you have to stand back and think: what a load of rubbish. Buy a wriststrap? I think I've more than proven they aren't necessary. Simply earth yourself on a bare patch on a radiator. If static was truly as dangerous as it is claimed to be, the PC I am typing this on wouldn't work, and neither would the one downstairs be playing games without errors, or the one at my Dad's house. Is it possible that it's all just hype to make you spend five quid on piece of nylon/cloth/other plastic that solves a problem that doesn't exist?

I built one on carpet, too.

I've never had incident either, I've built computers right on carpet too^.^

But just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it can't happen

Well all you really need to do is keep grounded and your hands from being static - touching the computer case will remove the static from your hands, so yes you don't 'need' that tape - but it helps and reduces the risk of you being static.

Just because you've been lucky, doesn't mean it is a con. Sure you can earth yourself on a radiator. Assuming that your radiators are bonded to earth correctly. Also touching the case is only effective if the power lead is connected to the psu. Also walking across the carpet is what builds up the charge in you so sitting on it when building is not as much of a risk. However static is a very real risk, the question is are you willing to risk component damage just because you got away with it a few times.

Risk? If there was a risk, on one of the at least ten times I've put components inside my PC, don't you think SOMETHING would have fried?

Not necessarily. It depends how you handle the components. Remember most components on the boards wont be damaged by static it is the ic's that are the main concern.

Would you say there was no risk of getting somebody pregnant, because you had sex with 10 women and none of them did?

Doubtful.. seriously, do you get static shocked all the frickin time? If not, then why would you think that shocking your equipment would be any different. The thing is, it happens sometimes without you realizing you've built up a charge.. Usually even then the static would pass through the component without damaging it, but hit it just the wrong way, and you've blown your 200 dollar video card

I do it more as a precaution than anything. When you're building PCs for others, or repairing them, you can't really afford to take any risks.

Times I can recall opening my PC:

I can probably think of more, given time.

i used to be a static freak, but now i'm not really too bothered
just give the radiator a quick touch and its all good

i do however keep all my components in anti-static bags
simply because it seems the most effective way to protect them

To be honest apart from the graphics card and ram and possibly the wifi card there really wasnt much risk there, because you wouldnt be handling components directly.

I'm on my third pc without a wriststrap too, like you said, i just use my radiator and i've had no problems.

Wish i could say the same about dust, i'm sick of opening up my pc and being swamped with dust...

Wow your a professional at a whopping 3 computer builds now mate.
It can depend on how much static charged clothing you wear as well.
Synthetic clothing is a biggy for this, however your environment also plays a role.

Ergo an excerpt from a website.

Static Electricity and Computers
Whenever the casing of a computer is opened and its internal workings are exposed (to change a hard drive or add memory chips, for example), there is a danger of damaging the computer with the buildup of static electricity that is held by the human body. The internal workings of a computer, and especially the hard drive, are extremely susceptible to static electricity, which can cause considerable damage to the hard drive if it is zapped with even a small amount. Microchip damage can occur if it is exposed to static electricity as low as 10 volts, and humans are not able to perceive static electricity until it has reached about 1,500 volts. (Walking across a rug can produce a static electricity voltage of up to 12,000 volts, but static voltage is not life threatening.) So it is possible to damage a hard drive with static electricity that is not even felt by the person because it is at such a low voltage. Also, computers become increasingly susceptible to static electricity damage as more and more circuitry is built into them.
Static electricity is caused by a process called triboelectrification. Everything around us, and including us, is made of atoms, and every atom has in its center (nucleus) positively charged protons and neutrons, which have no electrical charge. Surrounding the atom are negatively charged electrons. The protons and neutrons in an atom do not change, but the electrons can move from one atom to another. When two objects touch, they exchange electrons, which causes one object to become electrically positive and the other to become electrically negative. When an object touches another object with either an opposite or neutral charge, electrons flow. Static electricity is created when electrons move back and forth between atoms.

To avoid zapping your components with static electricity, take precautions to ground the static electricity before touching any of the internal components of the computer. Wearing an ESD wrist strap or working on an anti-static mat will prevent any static electricity from damaging your computer. Another way to ground the static electricity is to touch the internal metal frame of the computer's case while the computer is plugged into an electrical socket. The static electricity will be discharged and grounded as the electrical circuit is grounded via the AC outlet. And to be on the safe side, always handle the electronic circuitry on the motherboard, video card, modem, sound card, hard drive and other internal components by any insulated, non-circuitry areas if they have them to insure that you do not send a bolt of static electricity coursing through it.

An important exception to this rule is when working inside monitors. You should not ground yourself before working inside a monitor. Monitors store electricity in capacitors, and by grounding yourself you will provide a conduit for the voltage to discharge through your body. Note Well: A computer monitor stores enough electricity in its capacitors to be lethal if released, often tens of thousands of volts. Even with the power off and/or the monitor disconnected from a power source, the monitor retains an extremely high electrical charge. Only a trained professional using the proper equipment should ever attempt to work inside of a computer monitor.

Static electricity can ruin things for you.

It's not 'hype', it does actually happen.

I remember in my final year of school we had to build an electronics project as our major work. Have no idea what it was now (it's in some box somewhere), but I do know that I used a statically sensitive chip.

The first chip came, and (at the time I'd just finished building my computer) I ignored the static warning the box and teacher gave me. Grabbed it, popped it into its cradle, and... nothing.

Checked everything twice, and the only thing that could be wrong was the chip.
So, I had to order another one.
This one came in. Thinking the first was just faulty, I again ignored the static warning. And guess what? This one didn't work either.

Finally, the third one came in ($50 each for the school, btw). This time, I did everything right. Static wristband, grounded myself on one of the power tools, wore antistatic gloves.
Plug her in, and what-do-you-know? It worked!

Oraculaca said it best: