Plucking normally doesn't destroy the follicles. Otherwise in a few years, women would not have to pluck eyebrows anymore. Hair follicles can be very difficult to damage, or kill. Even professional instruments designed to destroy hair follicles, are not always 100%, and they plainly tell you that when you go in for electrolysis. Even in bald men, many still have intact, but inactive follicles, so Rogaine reactivates the follicle, and the hair starts growing. For those with dead follicles, the hair won't grow anymore. Even with most chemo treatments, hair loss is usually temporary. Yes, there are a couple exceptions to that, but again they are the exceptions, not the rule.
I used to get the corners of my mouth on my upper lip, and a tiny area on my chin waxed. I got tired of paying $20.00 for something I can do just as well with a razor, and there's no pain involved. No, shaving doesn't cause increased thickness, or increased hair growth. That's a wives tale. The facial hair thickness can increase a bit due to the loss of estrogen in mature women.