Seems like ALL of the above could apply. Plus, logically, if the necessity of the barb is true, then that portion of wire must be eliminated from a barbless hook, thus a certain amount of "pure waste" wire that the consumer, obviously, has to pick-up price-wise.
I don't seem to mind paying for
"barbless", but MTBE in Ca gas is another story....gouge us to put it in, THEN gouge us again to take it out!!! Balderdash to anyone who expects me to believe THAT is necessary.
....lee s.