How to extend the life of their daily driver?

[Electronic M]

Soft start circuits are only beneficial to sets without switch mode power supplies (which %98 of SS sets use) or voltage regulating 60Hz power transformers (70s SS Zeniths, RCAs, Quasars, and some other 70s sets).

Switch mode supplies and regulated transformers, won't start till the voltage is close to normal line voltage (and be strained by low line voltage), and or will regulate away the effect of the soft start.
What tends to kill these the worst is sitting powered off for years.