To Clear Coat or not to Clear Coat ? - that is the Rattle Can Question

[The ModFather]

I rattle canned my 05 Monster Dark seat cowl satin black using Duplicolor spray paint but didnt apply a clear coat. In the past I've ruined some nice spray paint jobs by adding clear coat (made it look dull and worse).  A few weeks later throwing a leg over the bike I scuffed the seat cowl. Now I'm wondering if clear coat would've prevented the scuff or at least allowed me to wipe it off (true?). I've repainted and am now debating the clear coat. In the past when it came out looking dull I had used matte clear coat maybe I should be using semi gloss clear coat. Any  insight  or advice on whether to clear coat or not, semi-gloss or matte and how long after painting before applying clear coat?

[DarkMonster620]

I personally painted a CF seat cowl in rattle can flat back .  .  . I think it held up well after a few years of use and abuse by sun and rain down here . . . I would wash it with soft soap and dry it right away