So....does slime work?

Yes, it works very well.
I use slime ultralight tubes.

I have used the tubes protector strips, and in my rear tire on the bruiser I used that slime goo. I have been over glass, sticker weeds, rocks of all kinds, and not one flat in 8 months

Not for me. I put a slime tube on my bike and it went flat within three days due to a glass puncture (tiny piece of glass and the tube didn't seal the hole at all). I replaced my tires with Schwalbe Marathons and nonslime tubes and haven't had a problem. I ride on some nasty streets and prior to the Marathons had many flats with nonslime tubes as well.

The Slime Lite tubes I bought last year (a bunch, they were on sale) failed in every conceivable manner. Including punctures they were supposed to deal with. When they do go flat your rim and tire are coated in this, well, slime. Makes it hard to change the tube and makes it really hard to stay upright until you can stop to change it. Worst cycling product I've ever encountered.

HAH. Me too, but I only put the Marathon Double Defender on the front - hey, they're expensive, but so far, so good.

I've had slime work, I've had it fail. When it fails, it isn't worth the cleanup to try (I say try) and patch it. Anyway, if there's something in the tire causing the original puncture, it is going to do it again, until you find and remove it.

I come up with a different flat tire theory every month. The Marathon is the current theory, and it's working.

The LBS here puts slime tubes in every bike they sell, like its Gods gift to man or something.

Well using the tube protectors with an exceptional tube would seem more logical then using their slime tubes.

+1, except that maybe a handlebar padding product that installed & wouldn't come off! I've had nothing but bad experiences with the dozen slime tubes I've used (yes, I'm a slow learner... ). If flat-prevention is my primary goal, I use kevlar liners and/or "thornproof" tubes. The thornproof tubes weigh a ton, but they DON'T go flat!

how much are the kevlar liners for a road bike?

I have a riding buddy who swears by them. He even bought me a tube with slime but since I haven't gotten a flat since he gave it to me, I haven't installed it yet.