Is CPU "whine" a sign of bad things to come, or just annoying?

I bought a MacBook Pro for my wife in April. It's been good -- especially after the firmware update cranked up the fans and knocked down the temps a bit -- but it has the CPU whine/buzz/high-pitched noise under the keyboard. Like the MBPs of other folks, it goes away completely if you open Photo Booth etc.
My question is, is this just an annoyance or should we worry about shortened lifespan of the MBP or other problems? My wife is loathe to give up the machine if it's not necessary, despite the aggravating sound.
I asked Apple Care this question and the rep said it shouldn't be a problem -- as far as she knows. I didn't find that as definitive as I'd like. What do you guys think?

There are different power saving modes, they are labeled C0 (full power) through C4 (deep sleep). By disabling C4 the CPU only can enter C3 (sleep) and therefore consumes a little bit more power. I don't know if this increased power consumption is significant, but I guess you will barely notice it.
Mario
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