My favorite ... when those "U" locks came out and the bike guy was trying to sell me on a lock that was 1/4 the price of the bike it was meant to protect, I jumped to "Freeze/Shatter" (details in another comment).
I felt bad after I pointed out this work-around ... I sort-of assume commission-based sales people are slimier than the average Joe; he admitted he hadn't thought of that but had heard of similar stories, just not "upside down can of air/sledge hammer" convenience. And steered me toward a good, less exotic (and ultimately ineffective) lock, instead.
And even the lock is a part of an overall security set-up that often has a weak-point right smack on "the thing you affixed the lock to" (if not "how you attached the lock in the first place"). And are there any unintended consequences here that are being missed?
And then the devil's always in the details of its execution. The story of "The Club" comes to mind ... big, bright, device you attached to your steering column that the theory of function was: (1) It adds a second factor (key) to unlock a device that has a hold on the steering column that is much stronger than what your car has built-in. (2) It's very noticeable, therefore, a thief will choose another car[0]. Except that the problem the thief has is walking around a parking garage carrying around a bunch of stuff that's frequently used to steal cars, much of which is difficult to conceal. With "The Club", one needed to carry a sharp hack saw and for your trouble you got a really strong lever to use to break the cars steering column lock. Two problems solved, making the product a vehicle thief attractant.
[0] If you and I are being chased by a bear, I don't have to outrun the bear, I have to outrun you.
I felt bad after I pointed out this work-around ... I sort-of assume commission-based sales people are slimier than the average Joe; he admitted he hadn't thought of that but had heard of similar stories, just not "upside down can of air/sledge hammer" convenience. And steered me toward a good, less exotic (and ultimately ineffective) lock, instead.
And even the lock is a part of an overall security set-up that often has a weak-point right smack on "the thing you affixed the lock to" (if not "how you attached the lock in the first place"). And are there any unintended consequences here that are being missed?
And then the devil's always in the details of its execution. The story of "The Club" comes to mind ... big, bright, device you attached to your steering column that the theory of function was: (1) It adds a second factor (key) to unlock a device that has a hold on the steering column that is much stronger than what your car has built-in. (2) It's very noticeable, therefore, a thief will choose another car[0]. Except that the problem the thief has is walking around a parking garage carrying around a bunch of stuff that's frequently used to steal cars, much of which is difficult to conceal. With "The Club", one needed to carry a sharp hack saw and for your trouble you got a really strong lever to use to break the cars steering column lock. Two problems solved, making the product a vehicle thief attractant.
[0] If you and I are being chased by a bear, I don't have to outrun the bear, I have to outrun you.