Totally normal.

It's normal at my granite yard...well I don't OWN the granite yard, it's just where I've purchased all my granite :)

if he/she needs a hammer, my granite reps eat wheaties

Yup...

I would not want that rest of the slab and like you would be worried about the remainder of the slab as well. In all my years working in the trades I have never seen this done here in Vancouver.

Well, 4 to 1 for normal, so I guess I will not stress over it.

Our fabricator broke off samples for us. When I shopped with my neighbor for her stone at a different stone yard they also gave her some sample they broke off. So I guess the count is now 6 to 1 :)

If it makes any difference, we had two different stone yards break off samples for us. Neither would sample quartzite (they said because it was too difficult to break off, but I wonder if maybe also because it is $$$ stone). If you check out the countertop geology threads in the kitchen forum, you can read a ton about stone slabs and recommendations of what tests to perform to be sure you are getting the kind of stone advertised/you want. I actually called ahead to make sure I could get samples after the first time I was told no. Given how confused the names are there's often just no way to know what you are getting without testing it yourself. I refuse to buy a stone I can't test first.

Every stoneyard I've been to will break it off unless, like in crl_'s experience, they were expensive or fragile stones. Some of the really common slabs with little variation had samples that were already cut and nicely finished, but otherwise, hammer.

My granite lady used to walk around with her little hammer and it was the funniest sight watching her whack at the stones.

crl, how do you test it? This will be for inside a shower ( curb, knee wall, bench seat, niche shelf) and on vanity top. I think I am going with Uba Tuba (second choice Absolute Black)

Uba tuba and absolutely black are pretty bullet proof as far as I know. I test for staining and etching, by dumping stuff on samples and letting it sit. For those two choices inside a shower, I'd wonder whether they would show water spots, etc so I'd probably try to simulate that use. There's a countertop geology thread in kitchens with a geologist who will answer stone questions. I'd post there and ask her if she has any thoughts.