I still run XP in a virtual machine for the three Windows programs I can't do without - Filemaker Pro, Quo2 & GPSU. I no longer bother with antivirus, but take regular snapshots of the machine file. If XP should pick up an infection I revert to an earlier snapshot. None of my data files are in the virtual machine and I don't use it to access the internet. I haven't had a problem in 8 years.

Activating XP doesn't seem to be a problem if you have a valid copy. My copy has been installed on 3 different real machines (one at a time) and in half a dozen virtual machines. I use the telephone activation and I suspect that MS have lost interest in XP.

Phil