I'm sure that regardless of how often you weld, it will eventually add up over a lifetime. I was thinking of getting an auto darkening helmet when I first started, then decided not to for the above reason -- that and it wouldn't have made my welds better anyways.

Sammy

95.5 Rodeo, automatic, 3.2 SOHC, D44 front and rear, 4.88's, 33" muds