You know those little black power supply boxes that sit on the cord between your gizmos and the outlet? Those things suck up power even when the device isn't in use, and that drain can add up. It's a good idea to put all your consoles on a power strip and shut them off at the source when you're not using them -- why pay all that money to fuel a device you're not enjoying?

You are right about the $on 24/7$ black power units often called wall-warts or line lumps. Usually chosen because they are UL & CSA safety approved, so a new gadget can get to market quickly instead of sitting in some expensive testing lab as the weeks slip by. Unplugging or using a master power strip is a great idea. Same goes for any TV or stereo that turns on with a remote, somewhere inside is a part that's always on, waiting for you to use the remote.