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Pi shutdown with toggle switch

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DaOld Man:
My main concern is like Slippyblade said.
With the NES console conversion I did using the Pi, it is extremely possible for someone (grandkids) to pull the pull before turning it off properly, also random power failures is a high possibility in some areas.
I experimented a little with a Pi B (only 2 usb ports)  and a 1000uf 35 VDC electrolytic cap.
I couldnt see any difference in the amount of time it took the led on the Pi to go out using the cap versus not using it. (pulling plug to test)
I did use a "old arcade type" power supply, so Im not real sure if the power supply may have allowed the cap to discharge through it. Maybe someone who has experience with these power supplies could shed some light on this.
Or it's quite possible that the 1000 uf cap is way to small, but Im concerned with real estate space on the NES console, so there's not a lot of space in there for a really big cap.
Has anyone else experimented with the cap/relay idea?

Jamesbeat:
I bring my pi based bartop to our annual holiday party at work.
The outlet that I plug it into is controlled by a wall switch because it usually powers some lighting.

Despite the fact that I always tape over the switch, people still manage to lean on it and cut power to the cabinet numerous times.

Before I figured out how to shut down with a button, I just used to cut the power, because my cab has no provision for a keyboard.

Power must have been cut to my pi 20 or 30 times, and I am still on the original sd card that I installed my system on in 2012.
Anecdotal evidence, sure, but I really believe the situation is nowhere near as bad as people make out.

I understand why opt2not wouldn't want to pull the plug as the routine way of shutting down the machine, but I think worrying about the odd power cut is going a little far.

pbj:
So this "that thing you want to do?  you don't really want to do that" mentality kind of pervades the community associated with the Raspberry Pi.

I'm pretty much in the same situation as Opt2not.  I'd like to freshen up a cabinet that's been running AdvanceMAME and DOS for 10 years.

Maybe I was just REALLY unlucky, but I got a corrupt card every time I turned off my Pi at the power strip the four or five times I tested it. 

The reasons I want to flip it off and on with a toggle switch are beside the point.  This is something we SHOULD be able to easily do, and simplifying this functionality would open the Pi up to many more applications.

Jamesbeat:
I was really talking about the odd chance of a power cut or an accident.

I agree that routinely cutting the power is not ideal, which is why I use a button myself.

If, like opt2not, a button doesn't fit your use case, then you will have to think of something else.

I was just offering an easy alternative that might be a good enough solution for some people.
It works great for me, but my situation is different because I'm only using one machine.

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