Is it suitable for a grassy bottom as well? Some of our local lakes that I frequent are covered with algae, and hydrillas so naturally I'm wondering if it can still be effective if I throw a swinging jig into that mess.  

If you think of the swinging jig as a crankbait, yes it can work.  I would suggest a weight that you can swim near the bottom, without dragging.  However, this presentation excels with bottom contact and a hard bottom.

 

I loaded up on these a few years ago but rarely throw them (for a lack of hard bottom).  However, if you pair it with a plastic that has a lot of action (i.e. Rage Tail) you can pitch to targets similar to a Texas rig, and the free swinging head may get you and extra bite or two swimming it back.  

I fish them frequently, but not around grass. They're great around all kinds of hard bottom, but not so good in grass or wood. 

They haven’t been very good for me except at night with a brush hog.

I'm new to these this year but learned alot. Hard bottom really is key, grass will collect on the head pretty easy. I used a Rage Bug and caught my first fish of the year with it. 

I love them on hard bottom with a ZOOM Z-Craw.  I like to throw the Mustad Fastach Football Head in ½ and ¾.  I use a half in anything less than 15', and the ¾ deeper than that.  I just started using them after the spawn and they've been a producer.