My colleagues looked at me like I were from an alien planet of a distant galaxy when I mentioned that I didn't have Hausrat Versicherung (home insurance).
They (for the first time seemed concerned about me) asked what I would do if somebody breaks in an steals all my stuff...or if a fire would break out and burn all my belongings...etc. I just shrugged it off and told em that I'll get some new stuff. Is the notion of not having insurance that outlandish?

It is. You're so not swiss.

I have one, it was a requirement for renting my place.

I've got only Haftpflichtversicherung ( civil / private liability insurance ). Good enough for me.

Hausratversicherung - home and contents insurance
Comparis link

I think you're odd, yes.
Home contents insurance isn't really that expensive and it's worthwhile if it covers theft of items away from home. I've successfully claimed for 2 stolen bikes, one from work, the other from the garage.

I don't have Haftpflicht either...

Tis cheap and useful when I move out and the bloody claims damages.

..and how much would that be aproximately?

didn't you tell them that there is no risk cause the only person who could break in apartments to steal is actually ...... you the ausländer ?

The joke is actually on you....but I won't tell you why.

I paid, through Jenny from the Romandie side, approx. CHF200 for 2 years.

Who's Jenny?
Bah, that would just be in the eventuality of something being broken etc.

That I would get. Taking a risk on your own belongings is one thing. But someone suing you is another...

Ours also covered the cost of a repalcement toilet bowl after I broke it in a drunken stupor (glass vase, cracked bowl etc etc).

...for example, suing me for slipping and falling in my apartment..or for which other scenarios could the sue me for (which would be covered by haftpflicht)?

I had a cousin who's apartment got broken into the first week she moved into a new place. A lot of her jewellery was stolen. The sentimental value can't be replaced...but it was gold....so she made a tidy profit

But yeh contents and liability insurance isn't even that expensive here. I think I pay 300 per year and it covers me upto 20k. It covers me for theft abroad as well.

If you are racing along in your scooter and knock some kid down and he chips a tooth. You'd be expected to pay the medical bills

..I sold the scooter already.

E.g. plant pot falling off balcony and damaging something or someone underneath, or Swiss person visiting and tripping on your rug and being off work... it's a kind of don't-take-it-personally-but-I'm-going-to-sue-you-and-your-insurance-will-pay-for-it-(not-you...) kinda thing.

Change scooter with air conditioning unit then

Another example
I had a colleague who helped a friend of his move apartment; at no charge of course.
He dropped a crate of breakables and the friend (now ex-friend? ) sued him for the damage.