v to answer your question. No they serve entirely different purposes. Clay is for overspray removal and other airborne stuff like brake dust, iron oxides etc. Rubbing compounds in their varying degree of aggressivness are for removing or consealing scratches in the clear coat of the paint. Compounds can also be used to remove paint scuffs. Caution has to be used when using them for this reason in that the more aggresive compound the more paint it will take away with it. Another thing if you can feel the scratch when you rub your fingernail over it this means it through the clearcoat and no type of rubbing compound will take it out. As for that Scratch X stuff along with others like it. They just fill in the scratch and when you wash the car the come right back.
