As far as I am concerned the stackers made wiring less safe here. The old standard was, if the wall wasn't thick enough to get 1.25" back (like 3/4" furring on a block wall) you used EMT sleeves. Now, with the stacker, I can just put that 1.25" to the side of the furring and be "hold your nose" legal. Of course that homeowner trying to "find the stud" with a nail has about as good a chance of hitting Romex as the furring.
Bubble covers are just a solution looking for a problem. They certainly do not keep the water out but they do provide excellent housing for paper wasps.
I actually like Smurf tube if you understand it's limitations. Carlon hypes it as the wiring method of the 21st century, good for everything, which it isn't but it is a good upgrade from Romex and it is great for low voltage.
