My front doesnt scratch but wow, a crazy amount of smudges!!! I cant stand them. I'll be getting an invisible shield for the front.
So an IS will not help at all with fingerprints etc? I was thinking of one, but not sure now
Well, there won't be any fingerprints directly on your device, as they technically will be on the shield. However, as you may have guessed from the name, it will look as though the smudges and prints are on your device.
My opinion is that the only place it is worth having an Invisible Shield is stricly off of the screen. The screen is so hard to scratch, and so easy to clean, that it would be foolish to add extra protection. I've had an iPhone, an iPod Touch 1G, and an iPod Touch 2G, all of which never once got a scratch on the screen (and no, I was not overly careful). Just buy the IS for the back/sides, and get a nice silicon case to absorb shocks that may otherwise cause a cracked screen (and no, the Invisible shield will not help to absorb shock).
I completely 100% disagree with you . I have an ipod without a shield, my dad has one with a shield. The smudges from fingers show up much more on my ipod than his. If you touch something that is glass vs plastic, glass retains the finger oils aka smudges much better than the plastic does. I have tested this myself side my side and his touch with the Invisible shield does not need to be wiped off once a day like mine does. Same goes for the backside of the iPod.
Personally I hate shields because of the 'disease like' airbubbles they cause. I have mine without a shield, smudges yes but scratches no. The back however scratches like a b***h so I'll get a case to deal with that.