When one posts in a public forum one has to understand that replies will be subject to those posters' manor and thoughts. I see this as part of the cost of asking for help. Please get past your dislike for potential tangents, just disregard them and take in the good replies.

My advice is to use as thick walled and as large in diameter tubing that your other parts will allow. As anything can be bent or damaged under an aggressive rider, the heaviest and strongest stuff will last longer. Sure the bike will be heavy and less responsive but it will tend to survive the best when crashed. By writing
"Basically, I want to
> make sure that this thing can take *anything* I may or may not throw at
> it (I don't intend to ever buy another frame, if you will): falls, heavy
> cases, anything."
you are saying that only the toughest frame will suit you, anything less won't. I generally take heed when absolutes are stated as the claim/need. Often I later find out that the speaker/OP actually doesn't want a bike that serves only the most extreme type of use they foresee, as that design takes away from the rest (90%?) of their riding works better with a lighter and easier handling rig. But this is why the more one rides and expands to different natures of on bike enjoyment the more likely that rider will have more than one bike. Andy (who doesn't agree with the "one bike to rule all" thought)