You miss the point, RC- The question is not bending or breaking the hub/drive washer, but unnecessarily nicking/marking/defacing the rim with plier marks. Perhaps you have heard the term "Plier Mechanics" or "Hammer Mechanics"? These terms derive from the usage, by those who know no better, of incorrect tools for the job, often resulting in damage or defacing of the parts worked upon.
All of this is irrelevent , I use tools every day as mentioned above , the most uneducated person would know to wrap the hub with something before using channel locks on it , IF THEY even cared about a few marks . The choice is yours , do it the way you like and GL.
