I have used Alpha Delta inline lightning arrestor for years with my LA-1K with no issues. Can they go bad and have a problem, yes. But like you I live in the South and it gets rough around here. Besides you need just the static discharge function on any antenna that is a none loop configuration, Dipoles, verticals and such.
Also with any random wire antennas you can get some wild voltages at the feed point.
Eric Clanton