I was recently shopping for a new pickup and I got the same story from several dealers.
Vehicle makers claim that manufacturing processes are much better now, and that careful break-in driving isn't really an issue anymore. That goes for cars and bikes. They say that in the old days, the tolerances were looser, and the engine parts didn't fit together as well as they do today. There was more 'slap' and rubbing of high areas as parts moved against eachother. This slap caused localized areas of wear, and the surfaces needed a certain period of easy running to conform to eachother. It was almost like the final machining process took place after production and during the break-in period. Now-a-days, the part surfaces fit together much better. The initial wear period isn't as critical.
The only thing to worry about is the tiny little metal burrs left from the machining and manufacturing process. For example, the first time I pulled my plugs, I found some loose, small curls of metal near the plug hole that were left over from the hole cutting process. If I found them on the outside, there were probably a few left on the inside too. These shavings are loosened and picked up by the oil and circulated through the engine during the first few hundred miles. That's why it's important to get that oil out of the engine at the interval specified by the manufacturer.
Just my 2 cents. Hope that helps.
Cody
