A surge in electricity can enter your house through a direct strike, the TV cable, the land line telephone, or a nearby strike, and in many cases won't go through the primary electrical feed of the residence. That means 1) a whole house arrester won't prevent all surges, and 2) you need a second line of defense for the devices in the house.
That doesn't mean the whole house arrester is a bad idea. I think it is still a good idea, because it is relatively inexpensive and effective at limiting the damage from surges in the electrical feed into the house, which are still a significant risk and can cause widespread damage.
That doesn't mean the whole house arrester is a bad idea. I think it is still a good idea, because it is relatively inexpensive and effective at limiting the damage from surges in the electrical feed into the house, which are still a significant risk and can cause widespread damage.