I purchased windshield insurance on my Subaru - because I'd gone through 3 windshields on my last one. It's expired and the windshield is intact. Any day now.... My first house had a warranty with it - and it came in handy when the pump on the heating system went out on the third day I was in the house. It was -10 real temp outside, and the house temperature dipped to the low 50s. When i called into the warranty company, they tried to suggest it wasn't an emergency; however, I convinced them that they were mistaken - and all was taken care of in prompt fashion.
Speaking of furnace issues - my nephew once had an issue with his newly installed furnace. The contractor told him "let this be a lesson to you" which ultimately turned out to be a suboptimal choice of words since my nephew was close friends with someone known in mob circles as the "enforcer". A short conversation between the contractor with a couple of representatives of said family friend, and all was resolved.