John,
The install procedure is completely unrelated to the restore procedure. In order to install (or reinstall) 9.1 on any computer, you will need an install "key" from tech support. They key is only valid for about 24 hours, as I understand it. This is understandable as a measure of protection against piracy. No big deal here.
If you decide to deploy a new "Main" computer, you have to send the backup .enc file to tech support, where they perform some kind of black magic to unencrypt/reencrypt the .enc file to work with your new Main computer. So in addition to the encounter with tech support to get your install key, you'll have to shuttle your .enc file (perhaps *big*) to/from tech support. That's my hangup.
In the past, I could restore our .enc file to a different backup Main computer so that we could test the integrity of the .enc backup file. Now, the only feasible way to test the .enc backup file is to restore the file back to the live Main computer. This is generally not something we want to do, as the restore process isn't exactly bulletproof.
In addition, you obviously couldn't do this during office hours. It would have to be done during the weekend. So let's say that during a weekend restore process, it hangs (trust me - very possible). Now what? You have to contact the specialized SQL team. Problem is, they don't work on the weekends. Now you're in semi-panic mode. Come early Monday morning, you face the daunting task of shuttling a possibly large file to AC tech support. Better have *fast* broadband, and better pray that the .enc file isn't "corrupted" in some way.
