Re:No it is not usual (Score 1, Insightful)

For many governmental entities destroying of an old hard drive when upgrading a system/replacing a computer/etc.. is not only common it is mandated. While you and I might think that there is ill intent involved, this is clearly not the case. The place I used to work with would make several holes through the drive with a hammer and screw driver after the drive was wiped clean. The intent was to make sure that no one was able to recover sensitive information from the dive. And just in case you are wondering, these rules/laws were enacted by DEMOCRATS.