I just pre-ordered my first White iPhone. Woohoo!
I wanted protection but didn't want to cover up the cool design of the iPhone itself. I have been covering my phones all my life and ruining what was meant to be experienced. However, I know I will inevitably drop it at least 100 times in the next year. So my goal is to find a balance of protection to retain resale value but also to enjoy the design of the phone, so keep that in mind while looking at my suggestions.
So I have gathered all the info into one thread, hope this is helpful to people in the similar situation! 
http://listentotristan.blogspot.com/2011/10/need-case-for-white-iphone-4s.html