No, i did get your point totally, not sure you're getting the finer nuances of what's been told to me and i'm in turn trying to pass on here though. Let's look at what's happened previously, Garmin tracked down and took action against (at least) 3 ppl from this forum for posting unlocked maps. If you read the EULA (Licensing agreement) you absolutely don't own any of the data be it firmware, software or mapping data. It's licensed to you on the condition that you don't interfere with it. They flogged those 3 ppl and goodness knows who else based on the extreme likelihood Garmin lost maps sales where potential buyers instead of buying maps took the offer of maps totally free from forums, such as this one did openly until last year. So, some points:

1. They are legally entitled to protect their 'soft' products against piracy by protecting 'hard' devices against using unauthorized maps through firmware changes.
2. They are further legally entitled to demand that any data they license isn't modified or reverse-engineered. (That's precisely why they license it not sell it).
3. Modifying firmware is treated no differently in the EULA to modifying mapping data.
4. They have already moved firmly against ppl who unlock and/or were supplying such modified maps. Modifying firmware might seem different, however it's no different at all in terms of the EULA. i.e It's the same prohibition against modifying mapping data as modifying firmware.
5. Therefore it's reasonable that because ultimately the purpose of patching firmware is also be able to illegally use unlocked maps and thereby cost Garmin map sales revenue that they will indeed look at the ppl who use the patcher. Not the author of the Patcher, not the ppl who download and use the Patcher. Likely the ppl they'll track down are the facilitators who make kits and RGNs for others to use.
6. History shows they didn't pursue Wu Yongzheng, the author of gimgunlock, they pursued the prominent ppl who used his tool to unlock the maps and/or post unlocked maps for others to use. They didn't seem to pursue the end user ppl either, those downloaders who just took advantage even though they got the ultimate advantage and didn't pay the facilitators who got nothing in return.

Sorry guys, you can believe this or not. History does tend to repeat in my experience. Ignore or poo-hoo the risk, it's your call. I believe the warning i got is credible because of it's previously reliable and Garmin-knowledgeable source.