I hate hand basting and have sewn over pins for years. The old machines with fixed presser foot, it doesn't work, you will hit a pin. The hinged presser feet were designed so you could sew over pins.
Have I hit any pins? Yes, more than I can remember, broken a needle caused a problem, yes, yes. Do I still sew over pins, yes. It never caused me any major problems. Sometimes you just know there is going to be a problem so I remove the pin a stitch before the machine gets to it. I like to use very thin pins unless sewing on heavy denim or canvas and then I do remove the pins.