I've always thought of chip tricks as giving away information about yourself. It makes people think you're good, which just isn't the image I think works best at the table. I think you would be better off if you gave the impression that you are young, have some extra cash, and you don't know much about the game. And as far as intimidation, I don't believe that either. Are you scared of that guy next to you that can do chip tricks? I hope not. One table I played at this one guy kept doing what is listed as the easiest chip trick on the website that was posted in this thread. I don't know if he was just bored or if he was trying to impress everyone, but it didn't mean anything to me.

About the only use chip tricks have is fighting boredom.

btw, I don't think live games are slow and boring. There's so much more to see than online.