I've had bras on all my cars except two...My '94 Accord and the Sub. Within a few years, the Accord had HUGE chips on the bumper (it had a plastic bug deflector that eventually broke) due to the high usage of gravel in the winter. The Sub has a bug deflector since the bumper isn't painted.

As for the clear bra, I have read that some of the clear bras will tend to discolor when the bugs "splat". I don't recall which brands, but I think that 3M was one of them. Plus, it is quite expensive to cover the bumper (which is where the Accord really looked bad).

So to answer your question, I would rather look at a non-chipping/non-scratching bra than have to look at a chipped and scratched bumper or hood. But as a lot of people have said, it is a metter of taste.