Linux Back Office Server Practices

If you regularly (or ever) build Linux back office servers for use inside an office (ie. not web servers that you maintain off site), I would like your input on a short list of questions about your practices (best or otherwise). I am hoping to write an office server case study soon, and would love to incorporate some outside input, but I am more interested in just getting some feedback on what other people do. I hope that I won't be the only one who finds the outcome of my surveying helpful. I will compile and publish results under any circumstances. Scroll down past the questions for early results.

I am looking for feedback on how others build servers that are meant to sit in an office, with or without onsite support (as distinct from web servers that are primarily intended to serve public information).