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Ironically, coreutils introduced[1] a requirement to add `--no-preserve-root` to `rm -rf /` way back in 2003, so that particular example doesn't really support the counterpoint you're trying to make.

EDIT: clarity

[1]: https://github.com/coreutils/coreutils/commit/34e3ea055721ec...

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That's because it was abused to troll inexperienced users.

"How do I do X? Just run this as root." Sometimes slightly disguised, but more often not.

I think the bigger problem is it is not very hard as a power user to unknowingly try to delete /

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