With many shots in the Swiss Alps I'm safe :) In fact, that UV-filter saved my lense once. I stepped on a stone that started to move, and with my cam on the tripod I had to find grip, smashing the cam on the rocks! crack Oooops! The sacrifice of that filter taught me it's great to have it, but the artictle is right, be aware of extra flares. A sun cap or just a good old hand above the lense protecting it from the sun usually helps. High in the mountains it helps wonderful to rule out the unnatural blue and a polarizer can help even better against it. Since you've not missed it enjoy the (little) money it left for you to be spent to other stuff!