Crutch: Lowers skill ceiling and skill floor, i.e. Formidable in the hands of a beginner, skilled players will find it useless. For example, players who lack the ability to aim will find the increased projectile speed of the Liberty Launcher helpful, whilst players who can aim reliably will have their combat abilities hampered by the lack of a fourth rocket.
Clutch/Crotch: Raises skill ceiling and skill floor, i.e. extremely difficult to use, but will be almost a straight upgrade in the correct hands. The Direct Hit is a good example, however it is worth noting that many players will discard it for the stock launcher, as it is extremely versatile and the Direct Hit can prove to be unwieldy in many situations.