I am not concerned about damage or deformation. Regardless if it’s damaging or not, it still feels unnecessary. Why not just use different hand formations for different targets. Time and effort is precious is something that you can use to build more important skills. Most people today don’t have a lot of time to kill.
If fighting ability is the only goal i would suggest there are plenty of less specialised opportunities out there for those without the time to spend.
If the aquisition of specialist skills like this is of interest, or the maintenance of the Chu Ka Tradition, then how much time people have or not is irrelevant... someone wants the skill, or the system, someone has to train the skill and make the time IMO.
Alex had trained Chu Ka when i met him, but i am sure he would agree not to the level of the masters he presents here, and his pheonix eye fist was an extrmely effective and painful tool.