Surge protectors are no protection when lightning hits your house or even a tree in the yard. It can travel through a window and get picked up by your cables. Locate your computer away from windows that have tall trees next to them. Most often, lightning either comes through the modem line, which is usually not protected, or through a window. Major damage occurs mostly when your house gets a direct hit.
Computers become obsolete too fast.
Yes, but some parts do not become obsolete fast enough. The 1.44 floppy disk drive has hung around too long. CD ROM drives are still too slow for anything really useful except loading programs. Modems are way too slow, and the NET, forget it. Don't buy a skimpy or outdated printer to save a few dollars.