I don't know about cores being ripped off the PCB, the only one I saw was maybe an old socket 754 CPU.
A shim will totally reduce the risk of crushing the core, I've had it that way for more than six months by now without issues. I have a XP-90C with a 92 mm Tornado, a 9500 LED is definitely lighter, if the heatsink is well tightened you shouldn't crush stuff unless you start kicking the case
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