Do programmable thermostats really help with energy costs when used with a electric heat pump?

Heat pumps are one area that a program type thermostat does not work well with. Most heat pumps need to run long times to be able to heat the home. When you use a set back schedule with a heat pump it is easy for the emergency heat to turn on to help bring the temperature back up. This really costs some $$$. So unless your system design allows or the program on the thermostat allows the emergency heat or 2nd stage heat to be locked out during recovery a program type thermostat will not be of much benefit.