My 2000 914c came without a pickguard. It was the first nice guitar I'd ever owned, and I was terrified of ripping the beautiful Englemann top with my pick. I played nothing but fingerstyle until the static cling pickguard came in. I slapped it on there, and didn't worry too much about trying to get all the bubbles out from underneath it. I felt more comfortable with it on there, and I used it confidently for a few months.
Ah, but there came a day when I forgot to put it on, a day when I had to do a LOT of strumming! Only afterward did I realize that I had not put the pickguard on. I expected to see a lot of pick scratch. Wrong. Nothing! Not a one! I asked a friend there who plays well, and he pointed out that my strum is mostly with a rotation of the wrist, not a full swing of the forearm from the elbow. He was right, and today I hardly ever use that "portable" pickguard any more. I've played that guitar regularly for over ten years, and though it's gathered a small number of minor dings, it still has no pick scratches.
That said, on my AGF Award McKnight MiniMac, there is a clear, "permanent" pickguard. If I were ordering a BTO 914c today, I'd get the clear, just in case.
cotten