Springgobbler, no the screws are not stripped out. That's the good news.....the bad news is that these things are a pain in the butt the first few times you try to change the blades.

The SCrews only have about 2 rows of threads and as you see they are REALLY small.
If you have the screww backed out to where it is just spinning and spinning you are doing good....they ALL do that.There are 2 ways to get them out from there.....if you can see the lip of the screw just barely peeking over the edge of the hole take that little square screwdriver they supply and scrape the screw out.....there should be just enough edge sticking up to pry it loose.
If you can't get the screw this far, then turn the head over and wiggle the blade a bit to loosen the screw from the blade itself....there may be a little gooky stuff causing a bond(cleaning the head with Windex helps prior to changing).....then while upside down. tap the tip of the head sharply on the table and the screw will either fly out or come out far enough to get it with the screwdriver.

You can do it.....be patient. I feel your pain, I just changed some Sidewinder blades tonight myself. I've probably changed dozens and dozens of them over the last 5 years......it can be a treat for sure! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>