Surge protectors and power conditioners - Good idea or bad?

Whole home surge protectors are noting but a bunch of big MOVs across line/neutral/ground, or in Europe, MOVs and gas discharge tubes. There is absolutely nothing they are going to do to hurt sound, but they sure may save your equipment. Everything you have plugged into the line will affect the line more than these things will. 

I have better things to do :-)   Whole home surge protector. I have fiber to the house now so data lines are not an issue now, but previously I did use a fiberoptic connection to isolate. Surge protectors at the equipment as well for added protection.  Our AC is underground, so I don't have to worry about direct hits really.  There is always the potential for something catastrophic, but the level of protection is pretty high, the cost was minimal, insurance will cover the rest, and I don't want to waste time plugging and unplugging everything.