Up here in Canada (Southern Ontario) you don't get much life out of the metal of your car if you don't oil spray. So much salt on the road...it is well worth the little bit of mess that you end up having to clean off...I plan on driving my car for a while.
The car is sprayed on the underbody and inside the fenders, doors, etc. The side marker lights are exposed from the inside of the fender...
We don't spray the outside of the car....
No ideas on the cork gaskets yet, eh?