Yeah, I'm not sure about that. Like your sibling comment, I also injured my back while deadlifting (with proper form and everything) years ago and it's been very tender and ever since. I also get back cramps in that spot around once a year, making me unable to move for about a day.

Same. I crushed my L5 L6 disc and was in pain for 2 years. But fortunately with care it eventually recovered to 100% and I don't feel it at all anymore. However deadlifting is something I would never ever try again, and when I see people doing it I often tell them my story. It's one of the best lifts, but one of the most punishing. I wish I knew how dangerous it was.

That aside, most other lifts are fine. The only other one I would suggest people avoid is bench pressing with the smith rack (that's the rack where the bar is fixed and only moves on the vertical dimension). You'll get weightlifter's shoulder from doing that. Stick to dumbbells.

Weightlifting is definitely injurious -- but also provides you with a lot of strength and physical fortitude that prevents injury doing other random things/sports. Like other physically taxing activities, it's a bit of a double edged sword.

Strength training with free weights actually has one of the lowest injury rates for a form of exercise around. Much lower than soccer or running or pretty much anything else you can think of.