so far I've changed tubes 2 times,(in macintosh se) i always properly discharge just to make sure, I've never even herd a snap crackle or pop yet, however i took apart a old 800x600 svga monitor yesterday, and it snapped hard core. i'm thinking the macintosh has a decent resister in it,

i was playing a little and i hit the power button on the monitor set the alligator clip about 1/2 inch away from the clip in the suction cup, instant lightinig and it was so loud, created enough EMF to mess up the show my wife was watching in the other room... good times

you once you see the electricity jump you can only pull it about 1 inch apart and then it blows the internal fuse, draws too much.