there should an option so that we can save our contact lists to a file like you can in msn so should you somehow delete contacts or sumthing along them lines

Please at least read before you post. This topic is well documented on the skype website. In windows XP, these files are located at C:Documents and SettingsyourusernameApplication DataSkype , and in linux these files are located at $HOME.skype . They can be backed up simply by archiving these files, and they are cross platform, i.e., you can take the files from windows, copy them to linux, and have your contact list in linux.

You have a small typo error: Linux is "$HOME/.Skype" :-)