single partition worst-case scenarios

[Aurelio Turco <azt@bom.gov.au>]

If I install Debian on a single partition,
what is the worst that can happen,
in the following two cases (the two most
cited justifications for having multiple
partitions):

  1: A runaway root process fills up the disk.
      (Will I not be able to get in as root and
        kill the offending process?)

  2: The filesystem becomes damaged.
      (Will I not be able run from a rescue floppy
        and repair the damage from there?)

Cheers.
Aurelio.