They aren't bad hooks but I like offset ones. Have been made a believer over the past 2 years in it. They are a lighter wire but are tough hooks. I like the VMC's for ocean fishing for perch and bass. A lot more durable in the salt than the sickles seem to be.

As for the "good" sickle hooks breaking, I haven't had a sinlge one break unless I tortured it to death. Compared to EC and Mustad, the Matzuos tested out pretty good and sometimes better with the good quality ones. The bad ones snap like a toothpick. I have never used any below a size 1/0 though so maybe that makes a difference also.