Has anything truly bad happened from unplugging a USB drive without clicking "eject" first

Unplugging a USB drive without safely ejecting it first can indeed have consequences, potentially leading to data loss or corruption. While the severity of these consequences may vary depending on various factors, such as the operating system and the file system on the drive, it's essential to understand the risks involved.

When you eject a USB drive using the "Safely Remove Hardware" option, or a similar feature depending on your operating system, the system ensures that all pending read/write operations are completed. Additionally, it ensures that the file system is in a consistent state before allowing you to physically disconnect the drive. This process helps prevent data loss or corruption by ensuring that all data has been properly written to the drive and that the file system remains intact.

However, if you simply unplug the drive without properly ejecting it, you risk interrupting these critical operations mid-process. This interruption can result in data not being fully written to the drive or the file system becoming corrupted. In some cases, this corruption can render the drive unreadable or cause data loss, potentially leading to inconvenience or even significant setbacks.

To mitigate these risks, it's essential to develop good habits when using USB drives. Always remember to safely eject the drive before unplugging it, even if it seems unnecessary at the moment. Taking this extra step can help ensure the integrity of your data and prevent potential issues down the line.

Furthermore, it's worth noting that while modern operating systems are designed to handle unplugging USB drives more gracefully than in the past, there is still a risk involved. Therefore, it's always best to err on the side of caution and safely eject your USB drives whenever possible. By doing so, you can help protect your data and avoid any unnecessary headaches or complications.