When it comes to increasing the gap very slightly I do it for short hitters and when using a crappie spin. The 45 degree hook point angle to the surface occurs as I set the hook no matter the distance to the fish. The high rod tip at over 45 degrees to the surface allows the hook point to penetrate upwards to the top of the fish's mouth or lip, keeps the hook embedded and rarely allows deep throated hooksets. Of course there's no need to adjust the gap for very aggressive fish as were caught yesterday. Perch and crappy in open water before the major storm, hit jigs with #6 and #4 adjusted to plastic lure size.

The 45 degree rule applies to all hooksets.

Note: the only way one would set the hook with the point being horizontal to the bottom is a side arm hookset which few do. As far as snags, no hook gap is immune from them especially thick pad stems, tree branches and stumps. Fortunately most of my casting & catching is in open water over depth-change/ dependent struture.

When it comes to a natural appearence, most lures rarely have one, and because fish can't think, they aren't fooled one way or another regardless jig and hook size. They simply react.....