...Ditto to that!!!! I much rather have a system professionally monitored then rely on a friend or neighbor. Even with the setup fees this is still a great deal ...
Other than the setup fee, the only other cost I've found is for an optional lawn sign ($12, you provide the stake). I'm going to just leave up my old signs.
Yard signs are great! Well, they are for the installing or monitoring company at least.
Free advertizing! Better than free if you have to pay for the sign!
While it is possible they will deter some, you better make sure they don't advertize "I have a system that is easy to defeat!" and that your monitoring company has good procedures in place to make it hard for someone that doesn't know the right passcode, etc. to simply call in and say "I goofed, please don't dispatch!".