One of the most critical things to watch and adjust on any solid valve train system is it's valve lash, which will change during break-in. If they loose enough lash to hold a valve open when hot, it will leak and burn the seat causing permanent damage. If they get too much the valve tops can peen or flat spots can form on the cam ramps or rockers. So yes, it's important that they stay in the listed range. After break-in if all is well they stay pretty much stable until the hard surfacing wears through but to start, all that is part of the break-in so...yes, it's easy...and it's just a 500 so it's also pretty fast once you expose the valve cover. My 800 had 1300 miles now but between new and 800 miles I checked them three times...and set them twice. The first time at 200 miles and it needed it. The second time at 500 miles it was in range but I was there so they were set then again. The third time at 800 miles they hadn't moved so I have left them alone sense. I'll check them again somewhere closer to 2000 miles.