Thanks Saltgrass,
there is important distinction here:
Whilst it's true that I did a "clean install" of W7, I did so using the Upgrade version of the software, i.e. it used the existing Vista OS as a basis for the "clean install".
Therefore, it's my understanding, that the Vista Recovery partition should be kept, because in case I need to do a "system recovery" then I would only ever be able to go back to a "full" version of an operating system, i.e. Vista.
(this is different to a System Restore, which can be done anyway through W7).
Have a look at what I was told here: Link Removed - Invalid URL
posts by MyronH.
Would you agree?
Many thanks