re: Proper etiquette for leaving a company?

I would agree about being honest. In some circles it is still considered proper protocol to give two week's notice. Flip side, I have known of instances in which the two weeks notice was given and the employee was let go that day ... so I guess that if you want to err on the side of valor, that is a chance you have to take. You are correct about not wanting to burn bridges. I had an employee some years back that literally nuked the fricking bridge, and then later had the gall to ask for a letter of reference to find another job after she got fired from the one she went to. Needless to say, the letter wasn't forthcoming. Crazy thing, she got fired at the next two jobs she got, so to this day I certainly would not give her a positive reference over my signature.