A strange one this.
I dont use a card protector and on most tables you dont need one because of the betting line.
On tables without betting lines, I just tend to hold my cards as protection (I had a similar hard luck story to the clip - though not as big as hers LOL)
However, I remember at the vic, constantly being told off about this because the dealer couldn"t tell if I was in the hand or not
In one instance, I was told to put a chip on it if I wanted to protect my hand. I replied "I"m all in, who is going to protect my hand now?" and suggested the poker gods??
I was called by AA, I had QQ but first card out was a Q (weeeeeeeeee)
I was quite drunk!!