Hello, everybody
I'd like to add my "direct experience" to this thread. A couple of years ago, the water pump went out on my '93, taking the timing belt out with it. There were no bent valves or other damage to the engine, thank goodness. My mechanic said "It's a good thing it is not an interference engine".

P.S. That incident was 25,000 miles ago, and I haven't had any related problems from it.