Breaking line

I usually wrap it around my arm a few times and walk backward.

I take 3 or 4 loops of slack line and wrap it between the reel foot and the reel, then pull with the rod pointing towards the snag.
Do you ever bend the eye on your rod?

The actual force on the eye is minimal.  Most of the force is absorbed by the line wraps.  However, using pliers or the reel foot is probably a better idea.

I usually wrap it around my arm a few times and walk backward.

Hope you're carrying a first aid kit!

How do y'all secure the line at the rod end for breaking?  Just letting the reel take the tension risks damaging the reel and risks burying the line in the spooled line.  I've seen line breakers on shore casting rods.  They look like miniature dock cleats wrapped on the rod opposite the guides.  I use my largest guide instead.  Just pull some line off the spool and wrap it around the rod once or twice and loop it over the guide, then align the rod with the line and walk backwards.

I like to think I have a pretty good feel for how much pressure my reels can take.  I've not had a problem thumbing it ... neither damaging a reel or burying the line.  Knock on wood.  I like the flexibility of being able to release my thumb if a big swell comes through.  On the few occasions that I thought I was pushing it (mostly when I tried 30# spectra), I would point the rod down into the water, wind down, then take a wrap around the foot of the reel before pulling back.

-Allen