Surge Protect Your Whole House

On the Tower Talk Reflector, there has been a good discussion on "whole house" surge protectors. I had not seen anything like this until I watched "Holmes on Homes" on the Discovery Channel. The host of the show is now installing these surge protectors -- about $500 -- on the incoming power to the electrical box.Supposedly, the surge protector will protect the entire house from electrical surges, though every one that I have read about says to continue to provide good surge protection at the point of the equipment. Plus, of course, power lines are not the only way surges get into the house -- wired telephone lines, cable, and others contribute.Multiple thousands of dollars can be lost without even being struck by lightning; the whole house surge protector seems to be a good investment to make.Has anyone out there used whole house surge protectors? What's your experience?Scot, K9JY