I never heard about anyone doing this... and if anyone is doing that, they are... mentally ill.
I am not doing any features with such people and such practices in mind, and I never will.
i read about this strat on these forums somewhere... i never even knew you could collect elerium items on battlescape before, but I gather others do actually use this... sounds like a legit option once you can chain psi control especially.
a modder could maybe eliminate it though i think by making the recovery mission a success if the power sources are destroyed.. i dont think it need be considered here