The main characteristics are the eveness of the grain, silking, tightness of grain. Bear-claw is lower down on the checklist.
My D41 has a little bit o' bear-claw.
I happen to prefer bear-claw. Have you seen the Andy Griffith D-18? Those mothers have so much bear-claw they look like "Quilted Spruce" !
At one point in time, bear-claw was not a desired characteristic. I think it's lovely.