In a storybook I have of GMD, during the Big Ben sequence, Ratigan's clothes aren't ripped up, and it seems to have lost the affect of making Ratigan seem frightening, even though he's trying to kill Basil.
Yes it helps to portray that all his previous intelligence and sophistication is gone and all that is left is a vicious beast so he would now have no need for his suit anymore, and I don't think the impact would be as powerful if he had those long claws if his suit were intact.
Ah, Padraic (this is Ratigan's first name)! I had a strange deram involving him fairly recently. May I tell you? If you haven't heard of someone in my fantasy, please tell me.
First, Jason Kreis impaled Danny John-Jules with a sword. The sword was poisoned, so Jason turned into Padraic Ratigan. Anal Cnut pushed Padraic off of Big Ben, but then Third Eye Blind appeared with Cade McNown, Cade caught Padraic, then Wing from "South Park" sang "Fernando" by ABBA. Wing married Padraic, while Todd Marinovich (the king of England) named Wally Gator vice senator of the Parliament. Basil of Baker Street was at the wedding, sitting next to the "Showgirls" poster. Bret Michaels joined the Beatles. Kyle Martino beat Freddy Adu to death. Padraic Ratigan tossed Kyle Martino into the Thames.