Jeff,
I understand what your saying here! A clean miss is a worse shot if you did not hit a branch or anything. To me that tells me you are way off and need more practice before attempting to take an animal! Therefor a wounded animal is also not good in its own way. #1 Obviously you got an animal out there that is hurt! #2 Yes you may have been close to your mark but not close enough, rethink your shot maybe you rushed or just really did not have a clear shot but took it anyway? Alot of things can happen when wounding a deer and it happens to all of us! Hell I had a clean miss on Sat. was I off my mark "NO" The buck saw me and literally ducked my arrow. SO there are clean misses where its not the shooter or an obstruction. I just think every situation is different. I think for the experienced hunter who knows whats going on a clean miss is what they want. I know I was very upset when i missed but also on the other hand glad he totally ducked it and I did not wound him! Dont know if this all makes sense but I do understand what your saying Jeff.