ethanopia

I wouldn't say they are a "nightmare" but its true they don't wire very well. That being said you can shape them well with pruning and generally they bud back really well. My Alberta is the only tree remaining from my original foray into bonsai three years ago. All the other trees I tried to style and pot, in that first year, have since died. That should tell you something right there :-)

All in all they are very cold hardy. Slow growers. But take to pinching very well.

Now if it is just the very tips of the needles turning brown I wouldn't sweat that too much, they kind of do that depending on stresses etc. It will probably be just fine.

If the needles are turning all brown in groups I would remove the wires and make sure it gets the right amount of sun and water. The needles and branches that are brown are probably toast and you will probably ok to remove those branches at the end of the summer because my experience is they won't come back strong enough to do anything of value with.