I suppose this deserves a second post, not just an edit.
I haven’t put a “clear coat” on my Sc and I use a leather holster exclusively for both of my carry pieces. That said, after less than a year of nominal use (IDPA matches, practice nights, practice on my own, and both dry and live fire) my frames do show wear.
To me this is just “character” for the sidearm, just like a correctly used and loved tool from a craftsman. On average my carry pieces are holstered and drawn about four times a day. This includes the days where I just holster and draw to put them in the safe and during practice. After eight or nine months and six months, my 1911Sc and 642, respectively, show that they have been used by a human hand.
For me, I don’t like having trophy tools, and the same goes for my guns. If I haven’t used it in the past three months, it goes back on the market.