Is running a block gaurd worth the hype or is it just a pain in the butt.

Block Guard is 1990's shit.  If you need cylinder support, you need sleeves.  Benson's is the hot tip.  All the strength of solid ductile iron, and the cooling of an open deck for a drive across country.  Benson's sleeves are custom made by Darton, and their proprietary installation process ensures that they will not sink.  Some types of sleeves actually use adhesive to hold them in place in the block, other brands press fit the sleeves.  Benson's uses close tolerance machining, then heats the block while cooling the sleeves.  After insertion, the sleeve expands while the block contracts.  This means that you only get one chance to get it right, because it's not coming out.  If you must have a block guard, have it installed by the machine shop, and have the cylinders bored after installation.  Pounding it into place with a mallet is asking for trouble.  No block guard can be machined to perfectly fit your block, nor do the thermal expansion properties of the billet aluminum perfectly match the properties of the cast aluminum block.  Block guards were developed at a time when people were exceeding the limits of the stock bottom end due to lack of aftermarket, lack of tuning, etc. and the only other alternative was to fill the water jacket with cement or some shit.  I knew a guy who had a block guard welded into his block, he had constant cooling and headgasket problems afterwards.  The block was able to be saved, but had to have sleeves installed.  He never had any other problems afterwards.  I'm not sure that block posting is widely accepted, and it's not really new.  Benson's or another proven process, installed by an experienced, reputable machine shop is the safe bet.  If the application is for a track only car, then a closed deck may be an option, but the sleeves still have to be installed properly for it to last, and be trouble-free.  A Benson's prepped block with proper pistons and rods should be able to support more power than most cars can put down.  The block won't be the weak link here.