I used to think the same as you do about lighting. But now I think it depends on the neighborhood. A dark home in a place generally well-lit does seem like a magnet. OTOH, I know of people who live more out in the country and they don’t want lights on; they figure people won’t notice the house if it’s dark, or they will wonder about the dog situation without being able to see.
That said, I think some strategic motion-detected lights would be good in that case.
But I’d like to hear people’s thoughts on whether a well-lit house is ALWAYS a good thing.
I’m getting ideas from reading this thread. Things like hanging a sign at the front gate that says, “We use night vision gadgets.” :)