I think that was a joke and I think it went over your head :)
I do know a guy that can solder scary small stuff (SMT, angel hair and other incredible feats of steady handedness) but I think that re-bonding zapped chips is even beyond his soldering capabilities. If only because you first have to get access.
I did once re-solder a pin on a 386 which had broken off and I was pretty proud of that but for the most part once you get to the package boundary it is game over.
"I think that was a joke and I think it went over your head :)"
As had I. My first computer was a PCjr., with a hand-soldered memory expansion card. I repaired broken pins on processors multiple times (maybe like 5 or 6), since in that era I was also building "custom" machines for people.
But in regards to this being a "joke", it just seemed like really bad folklore to me. Having lived through that era, I just really didn't see even any remote humor in the comment.
I do know a guy that can solder scary small stuff (SMT, angel hair and other incredible feats of steady handedness) but I think that re-bonding zapped chips is even beyond his soldering capabilities. If only because you first have to get access.
I did once re-solder a pin on a 386 which had broken off and I was pretty proud of that but for the most part once you get to the package boundary it is game over.