> 2. Are there any GPUs that actually have performed physical damage on a motherboard slot?
I have a MSI RTX 3070 2 fan model. It hasn't damaged my PCI-E slot (I think), but it's weight and sag causes some bending that now makes it so that my fan bearing makes a loud noise if spun up high.
My solution has been to turn my PC case so the motherboard is parallel to the ground and the GPU sticks straight up, eliminating the sag. Whisper quiet now.
If this is happening with my GPU, I shudder to imagine what it's like with other GPUs out there which are much bigger and heavier.