you mean they still have 'bit buckets'?..;) As a longtime tech working with network cards, you're going to get the speed the network is on, regardless of what card you have (if you're on 10mbps, and you have a 100mbps card, you're only gonna get 10mbps)..so if your ISP has Gigabit access (if so, you're one lucky dawg..;) go for it.
Never seen a card catch fire, but I did have a UPS leak battery acid and catch fire (this at a nuclear plant, at that..;) and saw someone smoke a 386 by putting it in sideways (uhoh, just revealed my age..;)

I wish I'd said that.. The Staircase Wit

anahl nathrak uth vas betude doth yel dyenvey..;)