Don't modern transformers have surge decoupling devices? The same thing happens with lightning and long transmission lines and isn't that why lights will flicker during storms.
Yes but not the same order of magnitude transient as we're discussing here. E.g. a fuse isn't a fuse if you force a gazillion joule transient through it. Current keep on flowing. Same with shunt protection: it can't shunt all the transient energy before it vaporizes.