Love it when people are so knowledgeable that they only need
make a declaration, never need provide any numbers, never
provide examples, demonstrate no grasp of technical facts, and
insist they should be believed blindly. Only they can be
trusted to know.

Your telco's $multi-million switching computer connects to
overhead wires everything in town. Since nothing can protect
from lightning, then one week every year, phone service is out
while a lightning damaged computer is replaced. Those cell
phone towers stop providing service for a full week to replace
destroyed equipment - annually. Commercial FM and TV
transmitters atop the Empire State Building are out of service
for 26 weeks due to 26 direct lightning strikes every year.
No wonder those communication and equipment manufacturers are
so profitable.

When was Pop going to reconcile real world examples with his
knowledge? Or are we to believe only he knows what is right?
Pop never provides any supporting theory, numbers, or
technical citation with his claim. He just knows. In the
real world, it is routine to suffer direct lightning strikes
without damage.

Whole house protection is not standard in most homes. If
the homeowner does not specifically request it during new
construction (only in recent years) OR has not has it
installed, then 'whole house' protection does not exist.
Furthermore, if the building's earthing system is not to a
single point - is not properly installed - then even the
'whole house' protector is ineffective.

Unfortunately most homes still don't have protection
sufficient for transistor appliances. Effective protectors
for lightning cost about $1 per protected appliance.

Pop wrote:
Whole house protection is a standard option these days
for the Mains boxes and is readily avaliable. However,
that does not negate the need for surge protection on
sensitive equipment like computers: It's a different
level of protection and also surges are created within
the house environ also.
NOTHING will protect against all lightning strikes,
especially if they are close by.