I agree. whether they do it with a laser or a knife, the end result is the same; a cat with less digits, poorer balance, damaged nerve endings, and less of an ability to defend themselves.
My grandmother despite my loudest protestations declawed a cat I gave her.
Whenever things went bad (like a scary cat outside the front door) he bit her. He bit her hard and left scars. She NEVER EVER complained about it. But if there are children or other pets involved, remember, a declawed cat is going to overcompensate for anything that a mere growl or hiss would suffice for another cat with claws. A lot of them have serious litter box issues , because, well, their toestubs hurt.