I've only known two people IRL that have killed an engine in any road-going car, and both cars were Nissans.
My brother didn't know he had to change the oil in his 3 years of Altima ownership, until it died.
My father forgot to change the oil in his Pathfinder for like 2 years, then it died.
Yes, I am related to these people...
Moral of the story, my experience says you are very likely to kill the engine by not changing the oil, or driving a Nissan. Otherwise it is probably fine.