[pastafarian]

I can't tell you there's no risk, but if you follow directions, it's very slight. Technically, you will void the warranty BUT if something goes wrong and you need to take the phone in you should be able to flash to stock and re lock, covering your steps. The directions you need are all in the upgrade section, just make sure you're flashing a rom for the CDMA Touch Pro. There is no "best" ROM, but virtually all are better than stock. For a good stable 6.1 ROM, consider MightyMikes 4 reborn. I prefer the scrolling of 6.5, but there are still more issues there than in a 6.1 based rom. Virtually all programs should work with all roms. but there are a few exceptions. You can check that ROMs thread for issues others have found. Once you get past the unlocking and flashing for the first time, it becomes easy to switch around and try a few. If you make a back up of the existing ROM with Sprite, SPB, etc., you have a quick way back to your last stable system if you're not happy with the new. Just re flash to the old rom and run the backup and everything is back to the way it was before in 15 minutes or so. I would highly recommend that you use the sd card method of flashing if you can. It's more reliable and faster. FWIW, in flashing you're not jumping into uncharted waters. The pool is crowded with a lot of users here who will gladly help you out if the water gets choppy. Enjoy!