I've always liked bigger tires. Been running 2.5's on my bikes for the last several frames.
Me too. At 235lbs I am more concerned about contact patch, rim dings and pinch flats than a couple hundred grams even if it is on the wheels.
Fatter tires give better options for tire pressures to suit the terrain. Fat tires, aired down to grip are easier on rims as opposed to skinnies soft. Never damaged a wheel going soft with a 2.3" tire. 2.1s don't have enough volume. If you're tubed, the pinch flats get pretty annoying too...
The larger tires, like high volume 2.5" also give the wheels larger diameter for better rollover and a bigger contact patch.
On a 26" wheel, high volume 2.5" tires gives 27" of wheel diameter or more depending on the brand/model tire. This is close to the same diameter of a 650b wheel running a 2.2" tire, but has a bigger contact patch and can run lower psi, so the traction will be better. The 26" 2.5" tire may weigh a little more than the 650b 2.2", but the 26" wheel will weigh less and is stiffer than the 650b wheel so the overall weight is similar, but the performance will be better with the 26" running 2.5". As far as I know, no one makes a 2.5" 650b tire.
IMO, for a clyde, running high volume wide tires like some 2.5s on a 26" wheels is the way to go, especially for rough AM riding.