Rev limiters and exploding engines

[Phil Esra <pesra@yahoo.com>]

In Road & Track's recent review of the Civic Si and GTI, Joe Rusz
makes it sound as if hitting the rev limiter is a horribly destructive
thing to do to an engine. Is there any truth to this? Obviously a
handful of times shouldn't matter, but over a long period...? Seems
like there's not much point of putting in a rev limiter if it doesn't
kick in low enough to protect the engine?

Thanks,

Phil Esra, rev limiter abuser