I've noticed this 'trend' with TMC hooks.

Remember that hook sizes are basically 'made up from whole cloth' by each manufacturer. There is no 'standard' as far as sizing goes.

I've always used Mustads 'standard' 94840 hook (3366 for larger hooks) as my guide when deciding what size a hook is to me. Even some of the other 'styles' of Mustads varied widely. I think that was one reason Dr. Fish gave for the recent change, trying to make the sizes more consistent across the line.

I always enjoy it when an angler tells me he's fishing a size 18, then see the fly and find out he tied it on a TMC hook and it's the same size as the Mustad 14 I have....I think it's probably all that 2x wide 1x short, etc., stuff that makes it that way, or maybe it's just that TMC sizes it's hooks differently.

Buddy