Marty that is a very good point you mentioned and one many anglers do not consider when tying terminal drift and mooching rigs. On the river I have noticed many anglers tying beaked hooks w/snell eye using a cinch knot (a tuft of yarn in knot). I also noticed a new brand of pretied mooching leader w/ the trailer hook attached using a uni knot at Outdoor Emporium.

While tinkering with my own gear, I have noticed how weak and brittle the hook eye is on a beaked hook. It breaks off with just the slightest bend with pliers. I noticed this while I tried "flattening" the eye so it sits better, while under a buzz bomb. Most major brands including: Gammy, Mustad and Eagle Claw, all broke off at the rate of 2 out of 3.