totally. it's not an argument until i call you an a-hole! 😎
all i know is what i've read and my own experience. the information i've found suggests everything from the claw having little to no effect and just being for aesthetics all the way to the otherside where it increases tonal quality and even pickup output. by and large, though, most people say the claw will definitely have an impact as it is (a) made of metal and (😎 attached directly to the pup. what that impact amounts to is probably based on a number factors (pup quality, guitar shielding, gain used, etc).
my experience with my setup ('62 reissue w/ a sd lil 59 in bridge) is that it does not alter tone in any noticeable way. the extra metal did seem to lend itself to the guitar feeding back a lot easier than without the claw. essentially, the outcome was having a great sounding pickup that fedback microphonically like a cheap one does. no extra line noise, though. i may bring it back eventually, but for now it's off like a prom dress.
