I am aware of the cheap nasty ones you can buy off markets or pound shops. I have all mine with power surge.
Surge protection doesnt make them any safer if you overload them. All surge protection does is it stops your appliances getting fried if a spike comes down your electrics. Oh, and they only do this once, then they are just a simple multiplug - the spike fuse only works once.
They are fused at 13 amps.
This makes them safe.
This is why shops are able to sell them.
All components of them are BS marked - thus they meet standards.
This is why they dont catch fire as soon as someone plugs them in.
Many people use multiple 4-way strips plugged into EACH OTHER, perfectly safely, for items such as TVs, hi-fi seperates, computer setups etc. The first one is fused at 13 amps. This makes it safe. If the total load exceeds 13 amps, it will fuse and all will be well.
You mention trip hazard - this is down to the end user. If the lead is trailed across a room, then yes, its a trip hazard. But most people dont do this. They route the cable round the edges of the room or tie it up.
They are safe. Quit banging on about it. If they have burn marks, get new ones.
They are dirt cheap.