There are a few very helpful people in this forum, and kudos to them. I would not hesitate to send them my data. But there are also a lot of very selfish, rapacious sharks. In fact my overall impression of this forum is that it is a conflux of egos. Mere mortals such as myself are treated in a condescending, patronising manner. Those who are not members of the privileged Club are reduced to begging for scraps from the master's table.
Contrast this to forums such as sci.electronics.repair where newbies are generally treated with kindness, generosity, and patience. In fact, of all the forums that I've participated in over the past 15 years, this one is undoubtedly the least friendly. Instead it has a very mercenary atmosphere.
One particular thread that sticks in my craw is the one where I helped a "pro" determine the date codes on the label and components of his problem drive. Initially he was grateful, but after I told him that I was not a DR guy, he ignored my follow-up questions.
IMHO, the best way to dissuade beginners from DIY attempts is to show them how it is done. For example, the following article should be enough to convince a novice that head stack replacement is not something that they should attempt themselves.
Head Stack Replacement: Questions and Answers (Author: Stanislav Korb):
http://hddguru.com/content/en/articles/ ... k-Q-and-A/