i just got the droid maxx phone and love it. it is not much better than my previous droid razr maxx HD, but i did the upgrade mainly for the bigger battery.
i always use a case but i get the thinnest one on the market to not ruin the overall aesthetics of the phone. sure it does not protect it like an otterbox but those cases are huge and bulky. i went with the incipio feather.
i have never used screen protectors before on any of my previous phones but decided to experiment with them on the new phone.
i tried the zagg invisibleshield and did not care for it. i did not like the rubbery feel that is well known and i think it also took away from the clarity.
i tried the verizon wireless ones (anti-scratch) and those are terrible. i had the store install it and while it looked great for a few hours, dust eventually got inside it.
the screens on these phones are beautiful and the feel of it is great too, so i personally decided not to go with one.