I love them. Learned the hard way to invest in good quality (read brass) qudruple bib - that's four nozzles coming down from one faucet - and make sure each nozzle has it's own cut-off handle. Also buy back back-flow valves, they are cheap and good insurance.

2nd most useful is to invest in water timers! One for each hose going to a particular type of plant, cuz what might need an hour's soak once a week is different from those plants that need 3 hours of water every 3 days, etc. Which kind of timer you get is up to you - and how good you are at figuring out directions (some are simple, some need a resident geek). Check leevalley.com for a selection of the best-quality ones, and yes, that simple cheapie works just fine! Be sure the timer has an over-ride/cut-off because you don't need to irrigate while it's raining; and you don't want to spend an hour re-programming the timer after each rain.

3rd most useful is related to 2nd - LOOK at which plants are going to get the water! Sounds obvious, but run the hoses so that plants which want/need minimal water get it from hose A, while moisture-lovers get watered from hose B, etc. I am gradually switching over to transmitters for better water control with fewer hoses. The only place the soakers are really non-wasteful is down a garden row or fastened into segments with non-soaker between (customized for each plant and boy, does it take time to set this up!). Again, look at leevalley.com - they have really good descriptions of the different methods of watering, including soakers and drip irrigation. However, I do not recommend any of the sprinkle-through-the air types. A waste of water (as much as 80% can evaporate before getting to the plant!) and increases the chance of mildew.

4th, don't overwater. Unless you are gardening in sand or containers or growing pumpkins, most plants need only occasional watering to make up for the lack of rain, rather than a scheduled drenching. Then, don't squirt lightly - for most plants, it is better to water well and deeply once a week than it is to sprinkle every day. However, DO MEASURE how much water is actually reaching the root area - it can take a long time to drip a gallon.

5th, cover soakers and squirters with a strip of landscape fabric and then mulch over that (helps prevent blockages and keeps away the weed-roots); the hose will last longer and there will be less waste of water. Again, check to be sure how much water is actually getting to each plant. A fast way to check (assuming you have at least average garden soil) is to stick your finger in the ground. Really. If you can't put your finger into the soil up to the 2nd joint, you either need to let the water run longer; or you have a blockage in the hose or emitter which is preventing the water from dripping; or you hit a rock while poking (that hurts, so be careful).

Don't forget your pressure regulator. Most homes have too much pressure at the faucet for soaker hoses, and don't run more than 100' at each zone (faucet). I would go to the rainbird website, and get one of their catalogs. It will educate you immensely. I know you want to put it down this WE, BUT you will save time, and money by not rushing it. I bet 95% of homeowners do it wrong, get frustrated, and give up. Burying it is a good thing for reasons stated above, but also becasue they attract dogs (water), and the dogs will chew them up...

Weebus - thanks for mentioning the pressure regulator, and the preferable max length - I just completely forgot to mention those very important details.

A good reminder about the dogs - my neighbors are really good about keeping their canines homebound so I've never had them digging or chewing the hoses, but I had a cat who thought the sprinkler-type hose was invented just for her: whenever the temperature hit 90*, she would wait for it to come on, and then lay down along the hose, stretched over the holes. I guess that was one way to cool off, but it took a while before I realized why the nepeta wasn't getting enough water.