Those "clip things" are called Minerallacs.

http://www.minerallac.com/PDF%27s/Traditional/OB.pdf

They're common anywhere on any surface conduit that requires the conduit to have spacing behind for washdown purposes, or hung from threaded rods.

They're perfectly legal in this application, and have been around since 1904 (Before EMT was even invented)

http://www.minerallac.com/History.html

.....And yes, I think it's ugly, too.