Every time I read about the butthurt whiners griping about the Ned rig I have to wonder did they get their feelings hurt when the Eakins jig came out? It wasn't a new thing either but there it is with someone name on it and they are actually making money on it to boot. That right there is a difference. A fishing report on a small forum based out of swmo is hardly going to generate a lot of sales other than some locals.
Now back to the Eakins jig. Like the Ned it wasn't new. It was a "system" type deal though. Line size and type, jig weight, type of craw. It worked/works too. Actually I used a little jig 75% of the time when I started really getting serious over 10 years ago or so. I make my own jigs now and have a more broadened range of techniques I like. Anyway the "system" part of it was the key. Same with the ned. Slapping a part of a worm on a mushroom head jig isn't new. Using the right weight, type of plastics, and method of fishing it is what has really came out of the Ned thing. That's what I've taken from it anyway.
Nobody is claiming an end all lure here. Even the guy selling the heads isn't. He likes to use it and catches lots of fish (pics to prove it btw) and reports here about it. Honestly I haven't put much time on it. If you read my last report I was doing what I like to do and that's have a short length of 20lb line out. The Ned likely would have caught more fish and I knew that the whole time I was there. It simply wasn't what I wanted to do. Not because I'm to proud or think it's a gimmick devised by people who have nothing to gain by it. It's simply a way that has caught on and people are talking about it. No more no less.
Also a word of advice. I know I'm not 105 years old so I can't possibly know what I'm talking about but if you don't like having things shoved down your throat, shut your mouth. If you don't like things shoved in your face then just keep your face the heck out of places where that could happen.