i cracked one CPU die, and that was the first time i removed the heat sink from anything (i was about 12 or somthing) but i learned from my mistake and wont ever do it again.
I think the reason they are putting IHS on everything is because computer components are now aimed at people who havn't got a clue when it comes to computer systems as well as system builders (makes em' more money) and when some one who doesn't really know what there doing when it comes to upgrading there computer decides they want a a new processor or somthing, they can do it there self without cracking the die, or breaking there motherboard (intel pushpins, rather than clips)