Ok, so maybe this thread was started when linux really WAS a pain in the arse to install. Things have moved on, and distributions of linux such as Mandrake have moved things on in the right direction!
Some people here have obviously never had to install a networked NT, Win2k or XP professional (which is basically what you're getting with Linux) in which case I'd suggest that you stay with ME or 98 and have it easy. All of the above require at least some basic configuration knowledge (far more than the initial poster I'd suggest?), so you wouldn't stand a chance at setting up any of them correctly if you didn't know what you were doing !!??. Yes, it really does make sense to RTFM for ANY system!
Even on a win system it makes sense to have several partitions if only to save data when (not if) the system crashes (ALL systems crash, linux included), but if you really feel safe with your SINGLE! 80GB partition then go ahead, you obviously are not interested in finding out what the advantages of multiple partitions would be?