Funny--
I've tied up a few clousers exactly as you described (minus the weedguard) for use up here, and have caught fish! I just thought they looked pretty. ;-)
Kinda makes you wonder--and I know we've all thought about this--how much of the "catching ability" of a fly is its ability to catch fishermen. Of course, I don't plan on catching stripers on a #12 Royal Coachman any time soon, but you know what I mean...