TECHWRITER, what form of "Tech" do you write, if I may ask? Your label of "Self-Described Smart Guy" puzzle's me. Sounds like you got your fur ruffled.
My complaint is not against an individual, it is about an industry that has no standards - indeed WISHES no standards.
Now if you want to, disassemble as many SURGE GUARDS as you wish and try to find a single avalanche rectifier.
Paying 500 dollars for an auto switching autotransformer embedded with a handful of MOV's because the gizmo is advertised as a "cure-all" is deceptive.
I am a teacher. I lecture. Reading my posts or responses is totally optional. If you have a question, ask it -- you don't need to add deprecating sarcasm - it belittles the person saying it.