Got a buddy who redid his whole home office with surface mount channels painted to match the trim. Looks clean enough and he can rewire his gear anytime without cutting drywall. In a rental, just running a flat cable along the top of the baseboard with some clear clips is totally fine. Landlords hate patchwork, and you can take it all down in five minutes when you move. Sometimes the "right" way is just what works without making a mess.