I like to swim. I swam with a masters group while training for an ironman. After the race I pretty much burned out and all I really ever do anymore is commute. Still...swiming is nice except for the whale impersonation I do whenever I go to the Y. People always look at me with some degree of shock when I get in the water and then totally waste the skinny atheletic looking guys.

If you like to swim for excercise, don't worry about form, but if you want to race, I'd say speed is about 75% technique. Definately learn how to do it right.