I thought I could sit this one out. Ha!

Logically, splinter forearms are a throwback, and were designed merely to retain the barrels (muzzleloader) or contain the forearm iron (breaktops). If the idea really was to minimze the weight or put the hands close to the barrel, forearms would have been eliminated. Nowadays, splinters are preferred by many just out of hidebound conservatism. Why else would a Model 12 be disallowed on a driven shoot? It spoils the flavor of the day.

All that aside, straight grips, splinter forearms, and double triggers are slick and fun in a minimalist way. It's like the old saw about a sports car being the least amount of machinery on four wheels necessary to move one quickly and securely between two points

As to shooting qualities, I seriously doubt that most people could tell much of a difference in hitting ability betweeen straight/splinter and pistol/beaver configurations. However, if side-by-sides were all that existed in the world and records were being kept of all scores, I suspect the pistol grip and beavertai configuration would come to the front for the better control it offers.