Anti-vampire power outlets

That's a ridiculously clever idea. Even saying to consumers, "all you have do is plug in a power strip so you can just flip a switch" sounds easy, but it's a trip to the store and $5 a strip. Integrated into your outlet makes so much sense.

Another little contraption I really like that's similar to this is one I found on an infomercial. It's called the Handy Switch. I have really harsh fluorescent tube lighting in my apartment, so instead, I put lamps around (with CFLs and LEDs :) ), but then there's the issue of walking into a dark apartment. With the Handy Switch, you just stick the light switch wherever you want it, and put the receiver on the outlet you want to control and it turns it on and off. Usually I have it set up for my lamps, right now it's used to turn on my little string of Christmas lights.

Plus, they're sold by that crazy guy who sells all the weird stuff on infomercials - so you know it's good, haha

Oh blah it's the Oxy Clean man.  I freaking hate that guy!

That is a pretty useful device though, and I really like the switch on the electrical outlets idea too.

I can go into any hardware store and buy a replacement duplex receptqcle with a switch. Based on how you wire it, the switch can be downstream from the receptacle so the switch is for a  circuit beyond the switch, or the switch can be upstream from the receptacle, so that the switch controls the receptacle.

We have several of them, installed when we built the house. But as long as one remembers to turn the circuit off at the breaker box it is not a problem replacing the receptacle with a switched receptacle even after the house is in use.

However, it is likely to cost about as much as adding a power bar, and lots more if done by an electrician.

I think having it installed on move-in is the key. Asking people to pay to retro-fit, etc. just doesn't make sense, so these dead-easy after market solutions are a great substitution for those of us or are a bit less DIY electrician-able :)