Is it actually that serious though? I've seen guys knee kick berber for years and the rug holds up fine if you know what you're doing. Maybe the guy at the supply house was just covering his own tail so you don't come back blaming his tools. A knee kicker with a good pad and the right technique isn't gonna blow out seams on a normal install. Feels like one of those things that gets passed around as gospel without much proof behind it.

The line about "normal wear and tear" getting twisted into a fee is such a common move, and it's the same trick you see with phone plans and gym memberships where the fine print quietly turns a basic thing into a charge. I mean, a carpet after two years is just life happening, people walk on it. Maybe it's just me but places like Logan Square have gotten so pricey that landlords know most people won't bother fighting over a few hundred bucks, so the clause just sits there doing its job. Illinois law being on your side only matters if you're willing to push back and a lot of folks just eat it. idk, I'd at least send a letter citing the law before handing anything over, sometimes that alone makes them drop it.