My picking style is basically "claw hammer" but it has a number of twists... The only time I need the nail is if I am either strumming or alternating claw-hammer with accented down strokes (strum)... Other than that it's a thumb pick (plastic) and two finger picks (plastic on forefinger and metal on middle finger)...

And, yes, fake nails allow the first two of those styles without any picks at all... Been getting just the forefinger done for about the last 20 or so years...

B~