I am completely converted to the hooks with shaped soft handles. I'm using a Clover one for the current project, but I also bought a Knitpro one in a different size so that I could compare them, and I suspect I will like them both equally when I have the chance to test the Knitpro one.
I'm really enjoying making this (small) blanket, which is really a sampler to teach me more crochet than I have done before. I had done the usual double, treble, half trebles etc in both fine cotton and knitting wool, but now I've made bobbles and clusters and all sorts of things.
I may or may not have bought a load of balls of Drops Cotton Light in lovely soft colours for a future project.