Sorry Nate, but I respectfully disagree....

I feel that a good dog and a knowledgable ownerwill put more birds in the bag than a dogless one. I do agree with you with re: to beeper collars....I do think that they spook grouse, at least part of the time.....usually birds that are heavily hunted on public land.
Now what I am about to say is not intended as a slap to any setter or pointer fan, but I feel that a flushing dog is a better grouse dog than a pointing dog; a running grouse that will give a pointing dog fits will not get the same chance with a flushing dog snapping at it's tail feathers. In addition, a when a flusher pushes a bird to flght, the bird doesn't necessarily get a chance to choose where it's going to go, sometimes lending an easy shot to the gunner. Also, flushers tend to bust there way into thick cover, leaving the gunner in the open to take advantage of the flush when it comes...not push his way into a grapevine tangle to flush the bird while it flushes out the other end.
I do think that grouse are the most difficult bird for ANY dog to work. I also think that a close working flusher is a must...a "boot polisher", if you will. Two of the best grouse dogs I have ever seen were my Uncle's Springer spaniel and my American water spaniel...both seemed to catch on to the game pretty quickly.
But I feel that the main key here is "knowlegable hunter"....I don't know how many times I have seen hunters who used to be dogless get super stealthy in a grouse covert, gun at the ready for that instant flush, and muscles tense. They stalk quietly. They scan the cover and decide the best way to approach it for the best shooting opportunities if there is a flush. When they get thier beloved pooch, all that seems to go out the window....they blow the damn whistle to kingdom come, shout at the dog, pay attention to the dog only, walk with they gun in the crook of thier arm like the bird will wait for them. I think if most hunters approached grouse hunting with these thoughts in mind (being mentally aware and ready to fire at a moments notice), they would bag more birds. FWIW.