intro & question about EBH in an 08

Third time's the charm? Let's hope so. First time I wrote a bunch then thought I'd look at one of the similar threads. Of course when I came back what I had written was gone. So I start over, tried to cover the same stuff but an expanded version. Went to submit the new thread & discovered I was not logged in, lost what I had written again. That was all earlier today..........and now.
Hey folks, writting to say "hello" from central Vermont. The last forum I was on was a BMW K1200RS site. I haven't been there in years, mostly because I'm not riding anymore. Not because I don't want to, just not up to the challenge at the moment. So here I am, K bike to Prius, that's a quantum jump.
Actually I'm replacing a seldom used Chevy Trailblazer with the Prius. The price of gas & living 40 miles from everything, who can afford to run a Trailblazer. Having so far to travel for anything is sometimes a good thing, sometimes not. Skiing is nearby, thats a good thing. So replacing the gas guzzler & maybe balancing my use of a Ford Diesel F350 for work is the impetus for purchase of a Prius. I know, I know, it's for work, a necessary evil.
I'm getting the Prius sometime next week, waiting for a dealer swap. I stopped at the dealer today and asked him to throw in a block heater to maximize effiency & so I'd have heat right from the get go. He brought me back to the parts counter & the guy behind the counter asked why a block heater. I explained what I've read here & he claimed that was not needed for the 08's. Is this correct? Are they just looking to not throw in a $60.00 item?
I'm probably not in the right forum to be asking questions. But at this point the real question is, will this actually get posted......third time is supposed to be the charm.
Thanks
I was going to spell check this, I'm just afraid to screw around too much. So here goes.....................

 

Thanks efusco, that's exactly what I want, heat quicker & better mpg's. It's hard to believe the dealers are not "on board" with that. Yup, I can indeed afford the beer & babble, no problem with that. It's the Trailblazer & F350 I'm having trouble with. For instance, this was about a month back. Went to the local service station & filled my diesel F350, fuel cost $3.99/gal. Two weeks later, maybe a bit longer but not much, I needed fuel again. Went back to the same station & fuel was now $4.49/gal. It had gone up .50 between fill ups! At that rate.........it could get expensive fast. Beer & babble, oh yeah, plenty to go around.
Thanks for your reply.

 

Hey Doc (efusco)
Hope you don't mind my calling you that, think I saw it somewhere on this site. I see you have that BT Skid plate, wondered how you like it. Does it affect your mpg's at all? I live a few miles up a dirt road, this time of year lots of ruts & worse. I'm afraid the plastic panel I presume they have under the motor won't take much scraping & bashing. This panel looks to be just what the doctor ordered.
Comments?