Ask HN: What is the state of trust in the Android rooting community? 12 years ago
I'd have to say that it is "like installing Ubuntu". Maybe kids that want to look all 1337 H4x0R5 make it sound like more than it is (eg. "like installing a pirated copy of Photoshop"). But what you are essentially doing is 'unlocking your phone'. What would be equal to "installing a pirated copy of Photoshop" would be to download and install (illegally) an apk of a non-free (as in beer) program.