Ed,
Yes, for a few lights, TV, HW and fridge auto switches are a bit overboard in my opinion.
Now, people that leave their winter homes and go south it might be a good idea. But only if you have a steady source of fuel like natural gas. And gensets that are not maintained, there is the likelyhood it will not start.
As a contractor you can make good money on the auto switch installation.
I know one contractor here in my area that does this primarily. He has a contract with a generator supplier, so he can also sell the generator and mark it up.
