I like the hook, but only on kettles without a rear handle because I prefer to hang the lid off the back of the kettle. I would rather have a kettle with a hook than one with a lid bale that didn't have lid with a hook. I think a bale and a lid with a hook is the best of both worlds. Easy to flip lid back to check the cook, or hang the lid on the bale to get it totally out of the way. Don't care for the rear handles or the new larger lid bale.