this.
Also, yes. Yes, to all the thoughts and comments about reading, and understanding. I like to think of rooting not so much as a simple process of gaining su permission on your phone but a journey into a different way of thinking. It represents a shift that you decide to take in your position to your technology.
If you aren't willing to understand that shift you can end up in some pretty bad places without any of the knowledge one would have gained via the "hard way" that may just save your ass.
Like most things in life, creative and intelligent thought about a subject comes from an understanding of that subject (and how to play by the rules of that domain). I always suggest that people who want to root not only follow the directions to the T, but also understand what those directions mean.
For example the simple "Flash a custom Recovery" is easy enough to do; download CM and it "flash" but what happens if the recovery disappears (such as the recent 2.2 rooting woes). If you took the time to learn what a "Custom Recovery" is, what it does, how it connects to the rest of your phone, you are in a much better position to 1. not freak out and make a poor choice. 2. Troubleshoot the problem and 3. ask the correct questions on the boards.
I'm not saying that a technical mastery of the interplay between software, firmware, and hardware is necessary, but a general understanding of what those are certainly is helpful.
O' and always and without fail, make a backup. there is just never an excuse for not having a valid Nandroid on your phone!
I have been contemplating this same general mindset the last day or two.
Day before yesterday I rooted (using the *gasp* easy way) and after my first experience with that, I see this in the same light as many other experiences in life that are perfectly acceptable experiences--but that can destroy the unwary.
The general problem in the western world, I think, is that we often have a subconscious belief that we are living in some kind of theme park where everything is safe and contained. Nothing really bad can happen right. That tiger walking up to me licking his chops is part of the attraction right?
I think when we are specifically dealing with "rooting a Droid" it appears we are also dealing with misnomers or misconceptions.
In my complete novice perspective the actual rooting process is very, very simple and not that hazardous at all.
It is all the things that follow after achieving root access that are hazardous.
So I used the "easy way" to root, I backed up every which way: backed-up with Appbrain, backed up with Mybackup Pro, backed up with TiBU, backed up with Lookout, and then nandroid. Then moved one of my back-ups to my PC. I figured no matter what happened I would figure out some way to restore this mother. Clockwork recovery kept "unflashing" if you will. I would flash it, then reboot into recovery and it would be there. Then reboot into recovery and it would be gone. When it finally rebooted into recovery with Clockwork present twice consecutively I wiped, rebooted into recovery...clockwork was gone...dammit before I ever attempted to flash any ROM.
Booted into the phone, screwed around just long enough to get ROM manager re-installed, flashed clockwork again, and voila, BB 0.4 was mine in a matter of minutes.
So, I suppose if I was to summarize my novice emotions about the experience I would say: rooting + ROM-ing is pretty damned easy really, but like landing a Cessna, it may be very easy but you really need to pay attention or the whole thing can end in tears.
Winner of the long post award.
Cheers