Would you want someone to cut your arm off. While in reality it's somewhat different, If it's not dead it's supposed to be there. Don't go cutting a bunch of living pieces off a living specimen.
True that, It's really not as hard as people make it out too be.. The problems occur when people think they aren't doing enough and then the over do it.. Or they are just lazy as hell.
Foil causes heat spots...
If the fan leaves were supposed to come off they would do so by themselves.. They are what collects the energy for the plant. You will also stress them out just pinching off random stems. Just no good.
Sorry only god could tell you that info. Let me know if you find him.. Depends on the plant and probably many, many other variables..
Just check every day, you know you already are anyways.. Who doesn't