I think snorkels are an essential part of a buildup for an all-around rig. I'm planning on installing one this coming winter season as a part of my "super-stock" build.
I'm raising my breather tubes, dialectic greasing my connections, and sealing my computer components, too.
I lost a perfectly good rig to a thrown rod. Not gonna a happen again. I think the $300 bucks for a nice Airflow or Safari snorkel is cheap compared to engine damage.
By the way, the dust protection charactoristics of a snorkel are generally associated with Cyclonic filters that set on top of the snorkel, replacing the normal ram. Its a common misprint/misnomer to say or think that a snorkel in and of itself removes dust from inflowing air simply because of positioning the intake higher. (As someone said before, I've also seen dust plumes higher than a snorkel.)
It's the same type of filter seen on many agricultural vehicle intakes to protect them from dust. Works very well. Especially in places with really fine bull dust like the simpson desert, mohave road (socal), Algeria, etc.
Bottom line is I'd rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it. I've used my snorkel (as in been in water above hood level) 3 times since I put it on. First time I didn't really have much choice... second time... same thing... third time... I just had fun crossing a river 
