Everyone has there own opinion for various reasons. I’m very hard of hearing due to firefighting situations: continuous noise, and a few explosions, one in particular in a confined space. Wearing hearing protection in home defense situations does not make you any less of a man, the way I see it. It might even aid one in getting the job done, as the electronics in some amplify conversation and ambient sound. As far as the time it takes to don them, why not simply keep them alongside your gun. Can’t imagine just swinging around and blasting away (although I suppose that could be your only option) as opposed to taking the one second it takes to put the things on and then actually look at what you’re shooting at. If you shoot at an intruder, and miss, and your hearing is then no longer up to par, you’re a bit behind the 8 ball from that moment on. No? Just a thought, here.