I carry daily, even when not planning to leave the house, because you can't make an appointment to meet the devil - he'll find you when HE'S ready. I carry everywhere I legally can.

I live in an area that's relatively low-crime. There have been a bunch of meth labs found in the area, though, and those folks tend to do poorly at rational thought. Police response in this area is usually over a half hour, too. If something bad goes down, I'm on my own.

My thoughts are very similar to Ken's about why I shoot IDPA. I shoot in my usual clothes, and with my usual carry guns. (Now that it's cooling off down here I need to dig out the cordovan leather vest I bought in Afghanistan so I can conceal and be stylin' at the same time. :D ) I'm the only person I've seen use a Bianchi speed strip for reloads during a match, because I carry a speedloader and a speed strip on the street. Most of the state matches I've shot have been with IWB holsters. I don't see IDPA as being a mystical, magical, Froggy-the-Gremlin thing, but I do see it as more than just another shooting game. Call it a game, plus.
Regards,
Chuck Edwards
Honni soit qui mal y pense!