> > they are for storing private data?
>
> On most systems with more than one user, the users work for a common
> goal - company, project, whatever, and sharing information is more
> useful than having to ask someone for a copy of their .login, etc...

most isn't all. on many systems there are hundreds of random users
(clients).

> If you're running a shell server, for people who don't know how to
> protect their own files, consider changing the defaults, by setting them
> in /etc startup files, or the /etc/skel files that users get when their
> account is created.
already did so.