I tend to go for "overkill" in terms of cases, i.e. the more tank-like the bettter, and after reading another popular thread here about a shattered 8700 screen, I'm gonna stick to that. I have a titanium case for my iPod mini, and I love it... I need something protective that I can toss into my briefcase (also metal
) without worry.
Unfortunately, I too have been looking for such a case (titanium, aluminum, etc.) for my 8700 but haven't found anything yet. When I do, I'll post here, but I think it's just too soon.
However, I suggest that one thing you consider is a metal case's impact on BB reception. I bought a gorgeous, custom-fit aluminum case for my 7290 (forgive me; I can't recall who made it or the site on which I bought it), but found it seriously killed my BB's reception, so I abandoned it. I think my 8700's reception on Cingular is better than my 7290, so I'll likely try metal again, but reception is something to consider is weighing metal v. leather if you're concerned about missing calls/notifications.