Well turning off the console in 2.1 is completely fine, the guide tells you to (especially if your Wi-Fi isn't on) so that's not the issue. The ONLY way to brick on 2.1 with a N3DS is closing the lid while it's on or updating via system settings. I feel really bad for all these kids that are bricking their 3DS, but I have a gut feeling half of them aren't their "friends". It makes it really hard to help when the majority of the time they are way less than honest about how it happened or "swear" they didn't do anything. Then when you give a real suggestion based on vague details, the rebuttal is a snarky comment about "not wanting to do that". I feel like what you guys need is some tough love.