@ari I once worked at a college and one of our professors had a backup drive she kept around in the event her computer failed and she lots years of her work.
Called IT(Me) complaining about issues with the backup drive not working. easy diagnose the mechanical drive in the enclosure was damaged.
....you already know she was saving things -directly- to the "Backup" drive and just lost actual years of her work.
The deans wouldn't approve a clean room recovery either so she lost a loooot