I just picked-up a new one today and wondered why the price increase.  Then I noticed the Mustad logo on the packaging.  Tripple grip hooks!  The first thing I’ve always done is switch out the hooks on Traps with exactly those hooks.  I’m glad to see that, not only Bill Lewis, but lure manufactures are wising up to the fact that anglers want quality hardware on the baits they throw.  
Would you rather pay an extra dollar or so for a bait with quality hardware or pay less for the same bait with merely acceptable hooks and rings?

I'll pay for the upgrade over switching them out myself given the choice.

Uh I like to have good hardware. My lipless cranks all have either mustad triple grips or gamakatsu EWG’s. So, I’ll pay for a bait with good hardware, or I’ll also pay for one with worse hardware and then exchange hardware. I don’t really care, as long as the end result is the same. 
 

Edit: by the way, I think I made a thread in the past whether exchanging for EWG’s are really worth it. I concluded that I like to have EWG’s. A common theme that you may have noticed among my posts is that I tend to change my mind about things. Very confident about the way I do things… until Im not. And then the cycle repeats. 

Either manufacturers put on decent hardware from the get go, or put on dull nubs for hooks so I don't feel bad for throwing away twenty brand new trebles after every order. 

If I was a “premium” hook manufacturer, I would be approaching credible bait companies and providing a workable cost with the caveat my hook brand be featured on the package.  Like Bill Lewis, a number of well known brands do just that.  That’s good marketing and good business. 

I believe Bill Lewis traps have come with the Mustad hooks for several years now.

I would much rather pay a couple bucks more for better hardware. 

I get more bites on the Academy Store H2O brand lipless cranks. But I lose more fish on it, though they claim to have VMC hooks. I've been swapping them out with my Trap hooks. The H2O comes with straight shank hooks. The Trap hooks are an EWG style and have been for a while.

10 hours ago, LonnieP said:

I believe Bill Lewis traps have come with the Mustad hooks for several years now.

They have, for probably 8 or more years actually. Papajoe must be living under a rock 

My preference... cut the leading hook from an in-line treble, so unless the premium up-grade was an in-line treble, no I wouldn't want to pay more for a premium hook up-grade.

oe

4 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

They have, for probably 8 or more years actually. Papajoe must be living under a rock 

LOL.  Actually, it has likely been ten years since I purchased an actual Rat-L-Trap.