Need the truth...

well...  maybe yes, maybe no.  The stylus and suspension are constantly working so the clock is ticking on lifespan.  If the cart is new and you're trying to break it in quickly then the locked run out groove can be a good thing, although many reckon you need music too to do the job properly.

Lots of good music out there with locked grooves aplenty, usually filed under 'Techno, Detroit'.

I came back from a week in France to find a ring of swarf around the center groove of the record I'd forgotten to lift the arm on so yes. I was planning to replace the 17D2 anyway but still annoying,

Ouch.

Are you sure?

Absolutely.

I leave the tonearm on the spinning vinyl only when I fall asleep 

Wasn't there a locked groove run-out on a Black Sabbath album which allegedly caused the listener to become a Devil worshipper?

Cue demonic laughter with lots of reverb.

John.

When I was a DJ at the college radio station back in the 70's, my girlfriend accidentally hit the counter balance end of the tonearm with the album cover and I ended up playing the label on the air for a few (too many) seconds before I could recover. 

Didn't go over too well & got the Program Manager into the studio pretty quickly!

Not quite the same thing as the OP's question, but it reminded me of the incident...

You can't handle the truth!

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

I was going to respond with "you won't find it on this forum....".

"Depends on if you use a hugo or not..."

The groove is silent (maybe some noise). I don't think it will run in your stylus suspension.

It is similar to running in speakers with amplifier switched off.