Originally Posted By: woops
If it breaks, how bad off would I be? Can i just leave it broken?

The chip would be dead. Pin 8 is Vdd.

Originally Posted By: woops
I definitely want to fix it again. What could have caused it to go dead again?

The problem is only fixed in Mark's kernel I believe. If you used the stock ones then there is a chance that it would screw it up again.