Well there was a Maxima a while back that had it's entire rear end taken off (as well as a good part of the garage it was in) when a bottle exploded in the trunk. That's a bad example. I personally would only do it after I have done just about everything else. It's not any more harmful to your engine than say a turbo if the car is set up right for it. It is the best bang for the buck and you can keep your 30+MPG too. My cousin has a 75 shot on his RSX and I still spank his ass so it won't make a slow car fast, just faster than it was. and if you really wanted too you could leave it armed and the bottle on at all times. To fill my cousins tank it costs $25.00. For me, after seeing the pics of that Maxima, I decided I don't want that bottle sitting behind me if I get rear ended or if the lines develope a leak and I flick my smoke teh wrong way you know what I mean?
This is what happened when he left the bottle heater on by accident. By the safety valve did not blow when it wa supposed to either so it was not really his fault just a down side to nitrous.