Yes, custom programmable electronic plugs are still available but will never be cheap. I use nothing else as I like flush protection and want to hear all that's going on around me.
When you say "sonic defenders", you mean the Lee ones? If so, I've never read any serious tests of these but they'll be 100X better than no protection. Remember that any passive device will never allow you to hear lower level stuff perfectly but it should take the damaging peaks out without you being too cut off from normal sound.
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