Do Scratches on a Lens matter

I have always operated without a filter on the front of my lenses. I've never had an issue in the number of years that I have been into photography. I have never been passionate about this, but I made the change number of years ago without any thunder. I remember when I made the change, I was as nervous as a soon-to-be groom standing at the alter. (Having done this twice now, it doesn't get better as you get older. Frankly the second time I figured she would get wise and head the other direction at the last moment!) As the years piled up though without any problems, I just realized that they probably aren't needed. This though caught my eyes as I was going through a fellow Bloggers site. Her blog can be found here. The article can be found here.

Not for the faint of hear though...it makes me want to go out and purchase a Bgn lens at KEH though, just to see how it does.