LOL! The return spring suggestion might work well, though. Easy to just cut off part of the original, bend the cut end to a loop and reconnect.

No. As the OP noted, possibility of damage, flippers too strong to make shots.

I can give a few more examples why stronger is not always better. 1) LOTR. The flippers should be strong enough to make the center ring ramp, but NOT overly strong. Why? A CLEAN shot should make the ramp, but an off-center shot should drop off the side or roll back down. Cranking up flippers means the ring shot is TOO EASY and any shot up the middle will sail in. Not challenging or fun. 2) WOZ Munchkinland mini-pf. A strong mini flipper makes it easy to shoot endless double loops (hold flipper up after first shot for second loop.) Again, too easy and boring with a really strong flipper. OTOH, WOZ lets you adjust the coil power individually. I set this mini flipper power down a couple of numbers. So, you can barely make a double loop with an ACCURATE shot, but an off-center shot will give just one loop at best. Much more fun and challenging!

I do see a trend among people new to the hobby who just want faster 'twitch' games. There's a lot more depth and challenge in pinball, even in olde SS and EM games.