I had a machine's timing go off after I sewed over a pin too. Bent the pin and it cost me $60 to get the machine going again. And I don't FMQ and at the time didn't use safety pins (I didn't quilt back then) so I know it was the pin (which bent all the heck when I hit it).
so even if it's rare, I don't want to take the chance. I have to drive at least an hour to get to a repair shop now.
eta: it was an older 70's machine. Not a newer one.