BIG help in keeping muzzle down, nice if you haven't the time/inclination/training/manly wrists to keep on target normally. Definitely louder and powder residue on your arms can be greater depending on your ammo.
Word to the uninitiated masses though - they royally suck if you find yourself in a lower light setting (you will blind yourself with the flash coming right up into your sight picture) or use night vision (most will never need to worry about this) or if you are running and gunning while shooting through ports/down barrels, into tunnels, etc. (you will be blind and deaf). Those ports on the top can get a little warmer than you might be used to as well (this one time, at band camp - there may have been some melting in a cheap nylon holster)
I like them, sometimes, super fun to shoot.
My .02 - you get what you pay for and this was free!