What are the real risks with the Extra-devel repository? Has anyone come across any problems? Should I enable it?

Mostly you only stand to lose everything that is on the device. Mostly.

I would read Here and Here first, if you are comfortable with likely possibility of re-flashing your phone.

Then I'd pursue researching the benefits/risks of only the Extras-Testing Repository starting maybe here to see some of the risks.

You have to remember that the software repository (Extras-Devel), we have here is specifically for development purposes only.
Which is more like:
Extras-Devel is a place for Me to work/break my code.
Extras-Testing is a place for You to test my code.
Extras is a place for Everyone to use the code.

Thus the applications/libs here could be working today and broken tomorrow. So this takes some rigor of reading the release notes and change log of the software before you install.

I couldn't live without extras-devel. I indiscriminately add whatever I feel like without paying any attention to which repository it comes from. I am perfectly ready to flash when necessary, but rarely need to. I do watch my rootfs carefully after every new install.

I don't think that developers actually use extras-devel the way theory says they do. I think they expect users to use it when it is available.

I hate to say this, but if developers actually didn't want anyone to use their code when they posted it to extras-devel, why isn't extras-devel hidden from testers and regular users?

Extras-devel is just fine for people who don't mind a little risk, I think. The hysterical warnings are way overdone.

With only 25MB of rootfs space left, I don't seem to actually have enough space on the device to enable the devel repo. I hope this changes when PR1.2 comes out. Of course I expect I'll need to reflash it to upgrade to PR1.2 so perhaps I'll have more space afterwards.

Only enable it if you have some knowledge with this sort of platform.

If you're just an end use, don't bother, unless you're into sending your device every few months to repair.

we cant encourage people to use extras devel.

i has been victim of two extras devel bugs that force me to reflash (and reinstall everything)

1) Titan plays A LOT with the power-kernel in extras devel. the Testing version is excelent, but the devel version 28 (or 29?) comes with a reboot loop bug. titans was aware of that and fixed it in the next version, but for me its a refash

2) i dont know what package messed up the sudoers file on installation. that cant survive a second in extras-testing

please, people: stay away from extras devel if you want a pleasure device

I don't think God even has an N900, so he can be safely ignored. The stuff about sending your device every months for repair is total bs -- I have never had to send any Nokia device I have ever had to repair, and that includes the N900.

And using extras-develop -- I think it's impossible to have to send my device to repair as the result of something I've installed from extras-devel. I challenge God: What would I have to install that would force me to send my device to repair -- I'll try it and report back!

Big deal, a reflash is essentially NOTHING once you know how to do it. With a backup, you can easily get back to where you were.

Well, I may have to rephrase for the more delicate users, like yourself; an end user, who is a total newbie to Maemo/Linux, will probably have enough hassle trying to re-flash the device which will end in sending the device back because he probably messed it up even more, by re-flashing an old version, etc, etc...

And yes, there are ways of absolutely bricking your device, by installing certain programs that may harm important files, which may be controlling the touch-screen, or booting system, and forth.

I am not here to argue, I gave him my opinion.