Lots of reasons why I prefer the gammies over a hook like the st-36:

* The Owner hook is very heavy hook. It weights the slammer down and the action is deadened.
* Heavy wire hooks are more susceptible to dulling. They dull faster and a dull heavy wire hooks is less likely to stick a fish than a dull light wire. They're also *much* harder to sharpen.
* I (personally) don't like beaked hooks for hard baits
* The light wire bronze finish is less spooky than the shiny black
* And to repeat what I said earlier: light wire small barb hooks do a better job of hooking fish when you're not really setting the hook much. Slammer bites should be handled like crankbait bites, with a soft rod and a soft hookset.

As far as baits go, I've been extremely happy with the newer baits I've purchased over the last few years. I like shorter, fatter, floaty slammers. A lot of the new 7 inch baits have been perfect in this regard, and have become my new favorite slammers.