Yeah the old Woolly Worms were less hackled. I do not know why the hackling increased as time went on. One thing I learned finally after almost 30 years of tying is that I tye them to look closer to the real ones that do drop into the water from the tree's. Woolly worms are really cool looking critters and are extremely easy to imitate. Now the griffeths gnat I like to not over hackle this fly. I feel the over hackling just eliminates the peacock herl all together and makes the fly a little less effective. I prefer to tye with less in wraps and other materials when I can get away with it.