Guarantee is obviously so chock full of exemptions as to only convince
the naive. Plug-in protectors do not claim to provide protection. It
provides protection from a typically non-destructive transient. Then
phrase the claim so that naive will assume that is protection from all
types of surges. Same half-truth word games got so many to believe
Saddam had WMDs.

That plug-in protector does not claim to handle anything. Have
doubts? Then put up their numerical specifications for each type of
transient. Little hint. No such numerical claims exist. But then
tobacco companies also successfully promoted claims in 1950s and 1960s
that smoking provided better health. Yes, many also believed those
myths.

Hardware protectors that are effective are those that have that
dedicated earthing wire. Effective solutions also costs tens of times
less money. Plug-in protectors avoid discussion about earthing to sell
grossly profitable and often grossly undersized protectors. They are
good at getting others to strongly endorse myths - as demonstrated in
this thread. Where are the numbers? Not provided because so many know
only using subjective reasoning.

So where are numerical specs that "says it can handle it"? Numbers
don't exist for same reason an American president could proclaim Saddam
had WMDs. No numbers - just subjective claims. Sufficient to have many
promote myths rather than ask some embarrassing questions.

Home protection including appliances has always been about earthing -
as even Ben Franklin demonstrated in 1752.

Michael Ash wrote:
"Says it can handle it" is more than technical specs. A good attached
equipment guarantee is the best way to say that it can handle a strike.
This gives the manufacturer a good financial incentive to build their
equipment well, and if they fail then they'll pay you for the equipment
lost. Of course they won't recover lost data, but that's why you should
make backups anyway.