The injury suffered by this thread's author's a perfect example of the heightened injury potential actually, regardless of whether some here like low reps and haven't suffered the same thing. Not to say it will happen to everyone, but the probability for injury goes up with higher weights and lower reps, it's pretty much common sense. That's why top BBs don't go with low reps in general using very heavy weight, they know better than to let ego get in the way. They go with fairly heavy weight relative to their strength in the 6-12 range for the most part with some changeups once in a while for contrast.
On a cost-benefit basis it's debatable whether lower reps will make any significant difference in terms of development. Those espousing low reps might've made the same or better gains on other programs. On the other hand the cost in terms of increased risk of injury is beyond debate.
Poor form is only possibly cause of injury. Even with perfect form the potential for injury's always higher with heavy weights for most people, period. The connective tissues and joints are overloaded with resistance they're not totally in control of when the reps are low. There's also precious little mind-muscle connection with very heavy weight.
Shoulder imbalances are only one cause of injury, there are plenty of people who are candidates for injury including Bob Chick who had no imbalance at all. Many just don't have the physique to handle low reps and very heavy poundages. It's pretty much common sense that huge poundages put tremendous strain on the joints and connective tissues.
I really believe that some here like the low reps due to ego. That's great for powerlifting, but notice that most of the strong BBs don't go with low reps on a regular basis for the reasons i've outlined both heightened risk of injury and also the fact that it's not as good in general for development. And once they're injured the don't have to be told twice on avoiding low reps.
Varying the reps for shock value's cute but isn't essential either, both because there are many ways to add shock value outside of doing this, and because the truth is everyone has a sweet spot in terms of a rep range that works best for each muscle. That's not to say changing it up once in a while's not a good idea but bottom line those sweet spots generally don't change, which is why you'll notice that the ranges in routines of guys like Scott, Oliva and Schwarzenegger didn't change that much over the decades. They had maybe two ranges for each muscle, one off-season the other pre-contest.
