I think the reason they changed was because of the card being used as a credit card, and so it will be easier to take off. The clips seem like they will hold...it almost seems like it would take something weird to get it to open to the point that it falls off. I got a VIP pass, so I might get a plastic cover for mine, since I have to wear it, and I don't want the magnetic strip to get all scratched up.
You are lucky you got the vip pass. we'll see what kind of hassle the poor man's pass is to get validated every day. By the way, mine didn't come with a cover or anything. She handed it to me just as it is like a credit card.