you might think of it like this: You know how a light bulb most frequently burns out -- blows out, really -- when you switch it on, and not when it's just sitting there glowing? That's because switching it on causes a great big surge, stressing the heck out of the thing. Happens each time you hit the switch. Same thing with your amplifier. It doesn't need the stress -- so just leave it on all the time. Except, of course, when there's a thunder storm rolling into town. Then, turn it off -- and unplug it, too. On the scale of stress, a lightning strike is way above flipping the power switch.