Just got off the phone with my brother. He went to local dealer to buy a 642 and CT Grips but after talking with one of the gun shop employees, discussing prices - the sales rep showed him one of S&W's .38 Bodyguard's.
He decided to get the .38 BG instead of the 642 & CT grips.
I would never carry a new design just to save a few bucks (or any other reason for that matter). The new plastic 38BG may turn out to be a great gun but, in the meantime, I'll let someone else be the test pilot.