Gorilla Glass 4 has a Mohs hardness of under 7.Quarts (sand) is 7, so a grain of sand can cut the glass. Carbide is 9, so it's like cutting butter with a hot knife. (There are carbide particles in the air all the time.)
Dropping, OTOH, is the opposite of harness. The harder something is, the stiffer it is, and the easier it'll break from shock. (Try dropping a lump of putty and making it break.) So it's a fight between harder glass to make it scratch-resistant and softer glass to make it breakproof. Or just harder glass and a shock-absobent case, which is why there are TPU/silicone cases.
vtpmt, a glass screen protector protects against scratches, but not against shock. Dropping the phone on a corner of the frame can spider the glass.
Yes. More than ever with this phone I think clear cases are going to be the way to go. It's just too darn beautiful to cover up with a traditional case. I hope the case makers realize this and get to work on some nice clear cases.Thanks for the info - everyone should read your post.
I said that I would put armor on the phone at minimum but meant to suggest that anyone that buys the phone get a clear TPU case. I have a Moto X 2014 with bamboo back with a clear TPU case and it has worked wonders - the case is very grippy and I have had the phone non off my desk accidentally by a mortified co-worker and she and I were happy that the phone was still in pristine condition.
If I got the phone - I would get a clear TPU case to show off the really nice design and protect the phone.