well i have found the bilberry to work well and last ages - i dont use it in too strong a concentration as i clean my wheels regularly - it lasts ages
i have also used ag wheel cleaner and again that was great
the issue here is making sure you dont let your wheels get too filthy in the first place!!!
as for a wax...............i just use the same as used on the bodywork no need to have seperate waxes for all different parts of the car :biggrin:
What happened to me and, I think, what happens to many people is they use a wheel cleaner and think 'WOW, they look amazing' and they assume that the results are the wheel cleaner's doing. And, to be fair, the wheel cleaner has done its job... cleaned the wheels.
I think what people often don't realise is that, like brushing your teeth, the majority of the cleaning comes from the brushing action, rather than the toothpaste you're using, or in this case wheel cleaner. For this reason, I think that pound shop wheel cleaner, washing up liquid or even car shampoo will often achieve the same results that Bilberry can.
To be fair to Valet Pro, I still occasionally use their Blue Wheel Gel and I think this is a decent wheel cleaner for when wheels are in really bad shape. But it's acid based, which means you can't use on a regular basis, without the risk of stripping the paint.
I completely agree with your final two points, prevention is better than cure and specific wheel sealant is not required. All I'd add to that is that wheel protection must be able to cope with high temperatures. For this reason, traditional wax probably won't last for very long, whereas a modern synthetic sealant, like Supernatural Hybrid, are ideal and will often outlast and outshine specific wheel protection.