How did nitrous get such a bad rep...?

And that about sums it up perfect.....you can also have a petrol solenoid not even working and still not melt things down, lots have done it and not noticed much on a run apart from a lack of power, enough timing out of course and at a high level 300+. Read some of the N20 threads the yellowbullet forums.
I went from 12.4's to 11.01 with only an actual 158hp gain on the motor (F jet too big then). Cheater kits are not 250hp with the biggest jets as solenoid orifice size was/is still today?...only .093", so max is around 195hp. I won money once because I had Nitrous and the other guy didn't...tough!
That's why in the 70's we put manual valves on with a 1\4 orifice.