Are third-party digital warranty plans actually worth the upfront cost for heavy-use electronics?

Hey everyone. I am upgrading my main video editing rig and buying a high-end ultra-wide monitor. The online retailer aggressively pushed a three-year digital protection plan offered by a third-party financial underwriter, not the actual manufacturer. As someone who uses their equipment for ten hours a day, I'm tempted. Does anyone have experience filing claims with these digital-first warranty companies? Are they actually financially viable, or do they just deny claims by citing normal wear and tear?

I bought a third-party plan for my son's gaming laptop last Christmas. When he spilled soda on the keyboard six months later, they actually approved the claim quickly. However, they didn't repair it; they just sent me an electronic gift card for the laptop's depreciated value, not the purchase price.

The financial value of these digital protection plans really comes down to how the underwriter handles catastrophic component failure versus accidental damage. Last year, I bought a similar third-party policy for my expensive audio interface. When the USB port completely snapped off, I spent an entire afternoon researching the specific claim filing procedures and required diagnostic forms on https://www.pissedconsumer.com/company/extend/customer-service.html to see how other audio professionals navigated the hardware replacement process online. It turned out my specific issue was classified as accidental physical damage rather than a mechanical defect. I would strongly advise setting aside a personal emergency fund for hardware repairs instead of relying entirely on digital warranty contracts.