If your playing it in your home, why do you need it?

I never installed it in my ST.

However, I don't really care much for playing in tournies. If that was your deal, I can understand setting up your pins to more closely replicate that scenario for better practice sessions.

But I guess it comes down to is the machine really going to get damaged from shaking it?

There's a WH20 I play on location regularly that doesn't have the tilt bob installed. That machine looks and plays great, and half the fun of playing it is shaking the piss out of it. Now the wood flooring under it, that takes a beating.