Surge Protectors?

We don't do everything, but we have an UPS (uninterrupted power source - also acts as a surge protector) on the entertainment center (TV, DVD player, Stereo, etc) and the computers/monitors/external hard drives. These are small UPSs, they last about 20 min, but if the power goes out, you have a chance to save your files and properly shut down. Since I work from home, it is wonderful not to lose what you are working on before you can save it.
There is such a thing as a whole house surge protector or surge arrestor and this is installed at the fuse box or electrical panel for complete house protection. This is especially good to have for homes in areas with lots of lightning.

I don't have a concrete answer, but I have some food for thought about this. ( I really do suspect that surge protectors are sold for things which don't need them)

I think surge protection is more important for items that are sensitive to fluctuations in voltage, specifically low voltage electronics. In larger appliances, you protection is the circuit breaker on the appliance or breaker box.

I think items with transformers ( DC step down transformers, not ones than increase voltage) could be susceptible to a voltage surge. Hard drives , and small computers with "memory" seem to need protection. I actually think the heating coil on a toaster could burn out from overvoltage, but your toaster probably has a fast blow fuse on it, and that is where your protection is. In our house we use line conditioners for the computers (kind of a high priced surge protector).

I don't think it is cost effective to put a surge protector on everything as many items can handle small fluctuations in voltage while many protectors aren't that great and will get blown out from something like a lighting strike. I might feel differently if I lived somewhere where we regularly got small surges in our power supply to our house (evidenced by circuit breakers popping periodically or by lights periodically getting brighter ).

I'd try to research this for you, but baby is getting up from his nap soon!

No. Your fuse box in your house will trip if a major appliance has any issue, it is not necessary for the safety of your home. If you are worried about the microwave receiving a shock through a surge, it could be done but a lot of the newer outlets now have built in trips for this simliar to GFI