As I think you said before, if they want to learn, they will. The problem is, if you know how to actually help them, then turn them away and they learn the wrong thing somewhere else, you have done them, and yourself, and injustice.Like I said before, there haven't been any government task-forces hunting timer circuits.
There have been government task-forces for automotive lighting modifications.
Plenty of schools ask their pupils to build clocks and timers...
I dont know of any schools that ask students to replace tail lights with LEDs.
So there are OBVIOUS NON EDUCATIONAL motives behind certain tasks.
You can not cover your hiney when it comes to automotive lighting modifications.
I think it would be far better to have told the person you are referring to how to do the right job, then caution them on going ahead with it by letting them know the pitfalls and associated dangers.