thnks for all the replies. appreciate them.
i think the downside is that with gaffer tape, there is a degradation of aesthetic of the camera. i would probably rather take good care of the camera than to wrap it up like a mummy.
but for work cameras that travel a lot and take lots of knocks, i suppose the gaffer tape would come in handy. imagine if you need to lug the camera along for mountain hiking or jungle trekking.