WEll I am a smoker also and that is why I mentioned the Rubbing alchohol, it seems to help prevent the buildup on the fan blade edges (you know what I am talking about). As far as the vacuum deal, the reason for the static problem is acutally the motor. It is just an electromagnet, and it generates a very large electrical field and charges all the plastic parts. If those plastic parts makes contact with the electronics on your mobo or anything else it will act as a ground, sparks, kiss your part goodbye. While the dust particles rubbing will cause a charge, really they just propigate the problem by holding the charge and preventing it from dissapating. They work like mini capacitors. By themselfs they are nothing, but together you can get some real voltage. Think of lighting, same principal. Tens of millions of highly charged particles all going to ground at the same time = destruction!