Agree with everything you said. If you have an ACR (with black front splitter and canard) they blend in nicely, especially with black stripes. If you don't have an ACR I'm not totally convinced I would have gotten them as they may have been distracting. That's a personal taste thing. They have protected the paint without a doubt.
Why not just get the clear bra done behind the wheels?
Invisible and no "mud flaps"