True, it's POSSIBLE that software could affect hardware, but if you reset the Wii, it gets rid of anything that was different software-wise from when you first got it.
You can prove it's not affecting the Wii drive by re-formatting the drive. If they don't believe that, they're totally un-technologically minded, and there's no persuading them folks!
Reminds me of when my friend was fast forwarding disc tracks in his Mum's car. She told him to stop 'cause it might BREAK the CD lmfao.
Then I gave him a PC cleaning tool to help get rid of crap on his PC. And then he went and deleted a system file with it (I mean, what idiot does that?). His Mum's now scared of me doing anything on their PC. She got scared when I mentioned installing FireFox lol!
Can't stand people who don't understand technology at all, and so blame the wrong things, or are just paranoid.