I would say that recalling a memory does not imply sharing something deep and personal. It's like the difference between these two questions: "what is the answer of 2x+4=12" and "what's your favorite movie". I hope we both agree the first one is bad to get to know someone. It does not mean that you need to get all emotional and cry when answering the second, but you will be more engaged and more interested by the second one. "recalling emotionally charged memory" just mean that you are giving the opportunity for a less boring and a more interesting conversation.
And not canned responses just means that with the usual questions, people answer already prepared answers (because these questions are so well-known that everyone already know what they will answer) while these new questions require some thoughts and more originality because you cannot easily just come up with the same banalities you've heard everywhere before.
Also, I'm not saying the answers will be shallow impersonals, I'm saying that "usual" questions are as dangerous. You can, if you want, answer shallow impersonals to these new questions, the same way you can with the usual questions. You can, if you want, answer deep personals with these new questions, the same way you can with the usual questions. The difference is that 1) the usual questions are too well-known to generate original answers, 2) creating an environment that give the opportunity to discuss of things that will help bonding.