The real problem facing beekeeping in 2014

[gavin]

However .... usually few bees will stay with a lost queen, and if many do you maybe be able to recover what would otherwise have been a lost swarm. There is also the consideration that swarms take a lot of bees and may end up being destroyed on the orders of the new host if they've gone somewhere inconvenient ... or they may simply die out overwinter (60ft up a Lawsons cypress or otherwise!).

So from the point of view of:
a. keeping most of your bees
b. avoiding upsetting neighbours

... it makes good sense to remove that piece of dry, dead tissue.

[The Drone Ranger]

Why is it cruel? Any more or less cruel than placing a dod of paint on her thorax?

Well she can fly off with a swarm and a bit of water based paint
If she comes out with a swarm and one wing that's game over

[Jon]

Very easy job but unnecessary and cruel

My 4 year old queen which was superseded this summer, I clipped a wing when she was 2 months old and it didn't do her a drop of harm.
her own family members did for her in the end.