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The reloading books all tell you not to do this. But I've been doing this as necessary for nigh on 40 years and never had one go off. The key is to do it gently. I had one go off that got stuck sideways from using a Lee Bench Auto Prime, then I tried to pry it out with a small screwdriver. It snapped but there was no harm. When they are being decapped in a press, even if one goes off, it only blows its limited charge up into the decapping die, then back down. It's not blowing at you. Just my take on the practice.
I suppose there might be some danger, depending upon the design of the press, of a chain detonation of an accumulation of primers nearby. Meaning in the decapped primer cup. I use a Lee Classic Cast press; the decapped primers have a long drop through a clear plastic tube so I don't see any hazard with the use of this design.
I agree; I've done it myself many, many times. There are plenty of reloading things that you "shouldn't do", that the books all say are taboo, that are actually safe if (and only if) you have the experience and understanding to really know what you're doing- "advanced techniques", if you will. Since by-the-book reloaders will often yell at you and call you reckless and crazy if you talk about them, I've found that it's most often best to just not talk about these things.