IMO, there is no practical advantage to a splinter forend.

OTOH, I like to see what I'm shooting at, hit what I'm shooting at, and do it without getting burned. For those reasons, I find there is a practical advantage to a minimalist semi-beavertail (fat splinter?) I'm happy to admire the lines of other people's straight grips and splinter forends, but I think mine have a fairly graceful bellyline from tip to toe. And when it comes to hitting consistently, I've found no equal.