Virtualisation and HDD health

Having come across this post on a Powershadow thread, and not wishing to take it off topic by discussing virtual products in general, I was wondering what the more knowledgeable than myself think about the risks of damage to HD of using various virtual softwares. I realise the poster here is speaking specifically about Powershadow, but does risk of damage exist with these technologies?

 

I dont think it could directly damage your disk, but since it will just cause your disk to be more active, the disk *may* not last as long.

Disks do have a MTTF (mean time to failure) of hundred of thousands hours. I wouldnt be so worried.

 

They announce millions of people using powershadow.

As I know, there are few western people using the powershadow. But Powershadow is a freeware for chinese.

Few western people know chinese and never will know this:
There are about 20,000 search result in google that report the disk or system crash by Powershadow in chinese website.

In some chinese forums, many chinese people complain the company of powershadow use the chinese computers for testing. the free is a bait. then sell it to the western people.