Well, I'm not a fan of pickguards in general - don't need 'em even for strumming - and dislike the Taylor shape in particular. To me it's a great big plus when a Taylor guitar does not come with a pickguard installed - saves me the trouble of removing it and the risk of tan lines. So I would opt for clear first, followed by the classic Martin teardrop shape as a second choice. I also prefer solid black or brown over tortoiseshell, so I'm probably in the minority anyway. YMMV.
